Little Bit of Love looked on song to return to his favourite track for Saturday’s Te Rapa meeting when galloping at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Working 18 metres out on the heavy course proper, Little Bit of Love (L Singh) was paired with stablemate Whistler (Mullineaux) over 1000m in 1:07.6, finishing off with a final 600m in 40.3. Little Bit of Love went down narrowly at Te Rapa at his last start and is in good order for another open 1200m assignment there this weekend. Whistler’s last-start effort from a wide gate was perhaps better than it might have looked and a better result on Saturday wouldn’t surprise.
Caitlins Wish (Stumbles) and Afterglo (Sanson) shaped up well for Te Rapa when they cut out 1000m together in 1:12.2, quickening impressively for a final 600m in 40.2. Caitlins Wish will be recently licensed apprentice Cooper Stumbles’ first raceday ride in Saturday’s open sprint.
Lotus (C Grylls) and Artamos (Romero) were also in good form ahead of their weekend assignments when running 1000m in 1:11.4 and 41.5. Angels Brew (Parmar) and Jade Dragon (Nishizuka) were well contained over the same ground in 1:13.5 and 42.4. Angels Brew has won her last two starts on the Cambridge synthetic and will be an interesting runner when she returns to turf racing in the three-year-old 1200m at Te Rapa.
Te Rapa entry Tregor (J Collett) wasn’t after time as he strode over 1000m in 1:12.4 and 41.8, while last-start winner Honour Roll (M McNab) looked bright when well-held over 1000m in 1:15.2, the last 600m in 39.8.
Spencer (S McKay), down to run in the open sprint at the postponed Trentham meeting on Thursday, and Luminance (Prastiyou) were timed from the 800m in 57.4 and 600m in 42.6.
Others allowed easy tasks included Te Rapa entry The Darzi (Loki) over 1000m in 1:17.2 and 44.8, Romanin (J Ritchie), who ran the same trip in 1:17.6 and 45.4, while Honorable (Hassman) and Concurrence (C Grylls) left 1000m behind in 1:13.8 and 41.6.
On the No.1 sand Squire (J Brosnan) appeared to have plenty in reserve at the end of 1000m in 1:05.4 and 600m in 38.6. He reverts to the flat in the Rating 75 2400m at Te Rapa. Over the same distance Los Santos (S McKay) and Scaredoheights (C Grylls) were not after time as they recorded 1:15.2 and 40.2.
On the No.2 sand Uderzo (Leighton) prepared for Te Rapa over 1000m in 1:06.2 and 37.5. Latoya (J Fawcett) and Levarti (Winter) began easily from the 1000m mark to run the trip in 1:12.4, quickening well for a final 600m in 38.2.