MATAMATA

Honour Roll confirmed his readiness for Friday’s Castletown Stakes with a smart final gallop at Matamata on Tuesday morning.

Working on heavy ground 16 metres out on the course proper, Honour Roll had raceday rider Michael McNab in the saddle when he strode over 1000m in 1:08.6 and the final 600m in 38.8. The Walker/Bergerson-trained gelding, one of four Matamata-trained runners in the Otaki two-year-old feature, was strong through the line at the end of his solo gallop.

Race rival Honorable (Hassman) hit out well over 1000m in 1:12.8 and 600m in 41.9. The Paul Pertab-trained gelding, who is also entered for Ruakaka, appears to have trained on pleasingly from last month’s debut second. Last-start winner Tenfoot Tall (Fawcett) was in good form ahead of her Otaki engagement as she covered 1200m in 1:26.8, the last 1000m in 1:10.4 and 600m in 40.8.

Odds ’N’ Ends (Prastiyou) and Poise (S Collett) prepared for Ruakaka on Saturday with a soundly-run 1000m in 1:10.2 and 41.6. Their Tony Cole-trained stablemates Dance For Her (S Collett) and Muchacha (Prastiyou) were well held over 1000m in 1:13.7 and 42.2. They are entered for Hawera on Saturday.

Ruakaka-bound Wexford stablemates Mosinvader (Leighton) and Little Orchid (Mullineaux) left 1000m behind in 1:12 and 41.2. They were followed over the same ground by Melanion’s Diana (L Singh) in 1:12.6 and 40.5.

Fly My Wey (M Brosnan) was keen through the mid-stages of his 1200m gallop, recording 1:19.4, 1:13.8 and 43.4. He is in good order for the open middle-distance at Ruakaka.

Colonel Warden (Azrul) got through 1000m in 1:12.6 and 41.2, while Otaki runner Chahoo (McNab) was timed over the same distance in 1:10.2 and 41.8, and Pallenis (S Collett) left an easy 1000m behind in 1:14.2 and 42.7.

On the No.2 sand, Ruakaka contender Scolera (M Jones) worked away from the 1000m mark several lengths behind Red Wings (J Collett) and did well to get alongside when recording 1:09.4 and 38.6.