A combination of the heaviest frost of the winter and light starter numbers this weekend meant a low volume of fast work at Matamata on Tuesday morning.

On the course proper, where the markers were set at 15 metres, Ruakaka maiden rivals Odds And Ends (Pino) and Foreign Currency (L Pertab) were paired over a truly-run 1000m in 1:06, completing their work with 600m in 37.6.

Odds And Ends has finished second in two recent starts at the northern track and needs only to run up to that form to claim a deserved win on Saturday. Foreign Currency, a rising four-year-old by Satono Aladdin, makes his debut off the back of a trial win at Avondale last week.

Sweet But Psycho (L Singh) wasn’t asked for a lot as she strode over ground, completing 1200m in 1:24.6 and maintaining an even rate over 1000m in 1:10.1 and 600m in 42.3. She has shown steady improvement over recent weeks, capped by a late-closing second at Ruakaka a fortnight ago, which is good form ahead of her weekend engagement at the same venue.

The Perfect Ram (Sanson) hit out well in solo work over 1000m in 1:07.5, the last 600m in 38.5. He is a recent trial winner shaping up well for his debut. Crackercol (Loki) and Tzarina’s Crown (Mullineaux) worked well within themselves over 1000m in 1:11.2 and 41.6.

In similar well-contained work Test Pilot (Prastiyou) and an unnamed filly by Exceedance (E Smith) were timed over 1000m in 1:13.6 and 600m in 40.8. Talented galloper Lupo Solitario (Leighton) was hard held over a round of the course proper and was allowed a little more round from the 800m in 1:03.2 and 600m in 45.8. He is shaping up well for his spring campaign.

Alabama Lass (Winter), who worked on the No.2 sand, also appeared to enjoy herself as she got through 1000m hard-held in 1:14.8 and 43.5.