Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Heroic Valour and Paulownia shaped up well for their Trentham weekend engagements when they galloped at Matamata this morning.  Working against the course proper rail in the four-metre position where the going was slow, Heroic Valour (Rusof) and Paulownia (McNab) strode into their work to run 1000m in 1:04 and quickened impressively for a final 600m in 35.8.

Heroic Valour, runner-up in the Darley Plate at his last start, runs in the Lightning Handicap on Saturday, while Paulownia, unbeaten after three trials and a winning debut earlier in the month, steps up to the Wellington Guineas.

All other course proper gallops took place at the 18-metre marker position, where Gold Spice (Handley) prepared for the New Zealand Oaks with smart work in company with Te Aroha Friday runner Divine Elite (Hashazumi), going keenly through the early stages of 1200m in 1:16.8, with the last 1000m in 1:02.9 and 600m in 38.8.

Oaks entry Swing Note (Rusof) was paired with New Zealand St Leger runner Bizzwinkle (R Jones) over 1200m in 1:17.3, 1:03.7 and 38.1. Likely Wellington Guineas favourite Astor (Cole) looked bright as she worked into her final 800m in 49.8 and 600m still under a strong hold in 36.8.

Libretti (J Ritchie) was also impressive over 1200m in 1:20.3, 1:04.4 and 37.9, while Lady Painton (McNab) and Lady Zeraph (Tan) didn't waste any time over the same ground in 1:15.9, 1:02.5 and 38.9, likewise Saffron Lady (Grob) when she recorded 1:16.5, 1:03 and 38.8.

Fortune Patch (Yanagida) cut out 1000m in 1:07.2 and 37.5, and was followed Vanilla Moon (Loon) in 1:06.8 and 36.9. Cote D'Or (D Weatherley) was unextended over 1000m in 1:08.6 and 38.8, while Unfazed (McNab) and Chadsdale (Burdan) recorded 1:06.2 and 38.5, and Tavis Star (Newman) 1:07.4 and 38.1.

Perroquet (Yanagida) and Voler Pour Moi (Loon) went together over ground, cutting out their last 1200m in 1:20.8, 1:05.6 and 37.8. Others timed over 1200m included Maltese Ruby (Ramsay) and Trois Vallees (Ritchie) who ran 1:21.9, 1:05.3 and 38.2; Wonder Woman (Grob) 1:24.7, 1:09.3 and 38.3; and Don't Lie To Me (Hashazumi) and La Mia Stella (Handley) 1:24.6, 1:08.1 and 38.9.

Ocean Emperor (S McKay) and Ocean Ruler (Johansen) covered 1000m in 1:07.6 and 39.7, while Captain Risky (Grob) and Tenacious (Parveen) took 1:09.9 and 39.

On the sand Underthemoonlight (K McQuade) looked trimmer for her recent trial when she strode over the last 1000m of her work in 1:09 and 39.4. Battle Royal (K McQuade) covered 1200m in 1:19.2, 1:04.8 and 37.6.

On the all-weather track Watch This Space (Danis) and Liquid Inspiration (Roff) cut out 1000m in 1:04.5 and 37.6.
Credit - Dennis Ryan