MATAMATA
Top Shelf and Luvabeel shaped up well for their Ellerslie engagements during a busy session at Matamata on Tuesday morning as horses prepared for the long weekend.
Most fast work took place on the plough, which provided good footing.
Top Shelf (M McNab) and Luvabeel (Bosson) were well matched in strong work over ground, gathering momentum from the 1200m mark to cut out the distance in 1:17.8 and completing 1000m in 1:01.8 and the final 600m in 36.2.
Top Shelf lost no credit with her close last-start third in stakes company and is bound to be hard to beat back at the scene of her previous start win. Luvabeel has made good progress since her fresh-up fourth and looks well placed in Rating 65 grade on Saturday.
Others from the Te Akau team who worked well included What You Wish For (Pinn) and Savoir Faire (Bosson), also entered along with Top Shelf for the open 1600m at Ellerslie, cutting out 1200m in 1:18.5, the last 1000m in 1:02.5 and 600m in 36.2. What You Wish is also entered for Trentham on Saturday.
Day One (Bosson) and Bolli Belle (McCrissican) were paired in smart work over 1000m in 1:03.8 and 36, while Afterglo (Hassman) cruised through solo work over the same ground in 1:05.2 and 37.6. She’s entered for the Thompson Handicap at Trentham but may miss the cut.
The Kris Shailer-trained pair Magice and Justin Case shaped up well for Te Rapa on Monday. Magice (Rastrick) was strong at the end of 1000m in 1:05.8 and 36.5, while Justin Case (S Collett) was no less impressive as he followed in 1:05.2 and 36.4.
Riptide (Mullineaux) a rival for Justin Case in the Sarten Memorial, was partnered by Khatun (Hashizume) in a well-held 1000m in 1:07 and 37.6. New Zealand 2000 Guineas favourite System Of Play (McNab) and Uptown (Pinn) were also not after time over 1000m in 1:07.4 and 38. System Of Play has made good progress since his fresh-up win and runs in the Sarten Memorial.
Fly My Wey (M Brosnan) prepared for Ellerslie with 1200m in 1:24.2, 1:07 and 38.6, while race rival Diomedes (Jaffer) was paired with Trentham entry Bradley (Harris) over 1000m in 1:04.2 and 36.2.
Ellerslie juvenile candidate Helena Bel (Hashizume) shaped up well with Ardrobelle (Holliday), timed for their last 600m in 36.3. Navigator (Harris) and Paddy The Farmer (Smith) were never at top over 1000m in 1:06.5 and 38.4. Navigator is headed for Melbourne with his first mission a handicap sprint down the Flemington straight on the opening day of the Cup carnival.
Lollapalooza (Pinn) was bright in her work over 1000m in 1:03.8 and 37, while Veridian (Bosson) and Pilates (McNab) didn’t waste any time as they recorded 1:03.8 and 35.9.
Also over 1000m, Chica de Oro (Melvin) and Callidonta (Stumbles) returned 1:04.5 and 36.2, Romilly (Paswan) and Joyeuse (Jodha) 1:06.8 and 39, Anora (Harris) and Noverre Belle (S Collett) 1:07.6 and 38.4, Dubai Gold (Dellow) and Sadbh (Rastrick) 1:11.8 and 39.2, French Thinker (Sheehan) and Lucky Dice (M Singh) 1:07.8 and 39.2, and Woman In Charge (Hassman) and Shoebill (McNab) 1:08.2 and 39.
Basel Warrior (J Collett) and Red Wings (S Collett) were timed from the 800m in 49.2 and 36.5, and Snipers Shot (Leighton) and Acanthus (McNab) took 53 and 38.6.