Matamata & Riccarton Tuesday Trackwork

MATAMATA - credit Dennis Ryan

Ocean Emperor looked ready to defend his Tauranga Stakes title when he galloped impressively at Matamata this morning. Working 22 metres out on a dead course proper, Ocean Emperor (Fawcett) appeared to enjoy himself as he strode over 1200m in 1:22.5, building momentum for a final 1000m in 1:06.9 and 600m in 38.6. The Gary Hennessy-trained entire has trained on well from his recent win at Awapuni and will be the horse to beat as he attempt to repeat last year's win in the feature event at Tauranga this weekend, when he will be ridden by Dylan Turner.

Bocce (Bayliss) also shape up well for Tauranga when completing 1200m in 1:19.7, 1:05.3 and 37.2, while stablemate The Boy Wonder (Bayliss) got into his work over the same ground in 1:16.8, 1:02.5 and 37.5. Tauranga entries Sunburst (Lammas) and Vermont (A Jones) strode over 1200m in 1:20.2, 1:05.4 and 37.9.

On the all-weather track, New Zealand 1000 Guineas candidate Easy M'Lady (R Jones) impressed with the way she got through her final gallop in company with Battle Royal (Danis). The Vicki Prendergast-trained filly was travelling strongly alongside her stablemate at the end of 1200m in 1:18.9, with the last 1000m in 1:02.3 and 600m in 37.2.

On the sand, where the timing of a number of early gallops was compromised by fog, Embellish (Miller) shaded his maiden companion Lo Schiaffo (Costin) at the end of a smart 1000m in 1:02.5. No sectional time was possible, but Embellish hit the line well ahead of his Tauranga 1400-metre engagement.

Cha Siu Bao (Yanagida) and Voler Pour Moi (Danis) also impressed ahead of Tauranga as they cut out 1200m in 1:15.2 and 1000m in 1:01.8. Ca Si Bao is coming to hand well after returning from a long layoff.

Designed To Impress (S McKay) and Barzellar (Lammas) left 1000m behind in 1:02.8, while Mav (C Cole) and Lady Davone (S Collett) ran the same distance in 1:02.9 and 36.2, The Mitigator (S McKay) 1:05.2 and 37, and Beau Marche (Miller) 1:03 and 36.5.

Laaffaire (K Jones) and Garados (A Jones) were paired over 1000m in 1:08.4 and 600m in 37.5. Stakes-placed former South Island mare Laaffaire will be an interesting runner at Tauranga in her first start for Stephen Autridge.

Virtuoso Lad (Tynan) covered 1000m in 1:04.4 and 36.2, while fellow Ruakaka Friday entry Bravissimo (Fawcett) followed in 1:03.2 and 37.4. Tauranga candidate Code Cracker (Coleman) went with Akaba (Bayliss) over 1200m in 1:18.6 and 1000m in 1:04.2.

Le Sablier (A Jones) looked bright in her work over 1000m in 1:07.2 and 38.5, and Mahalo (Handley) ran the same distance in 1:09.2. Gold Spice (Hashizume) was keen over 1200m in 1:15.8 and 1000m in 1:03.6, while Tiptronic (Handley) returned 1:23.8 for 1200m and 41 for his final 600m.

RICCARTON - credit Brian De Lore - track work reports sponsored by Te Akau Racing

Conditions were good for this morning's session with both the plough and the big trial grass open with the grass firm with fast times resulting. Some Saturday acceptors were galloping Monday and Wednesday in preparation for Wednesday and Cup Day but those that did speed work mainly opted for the grass due to the plough offering rougher than usual going after last week's rain.

The Wheeler trained Taranaki visitor Abacus (Wheeler) caught the eye when at the end of two solidly-paced laps of the big trial grass he finished off his work strongly, his final 600m in only 34.1. Abacus is set to contest the R72 2000m at Riccarton on Wednesday and should prove very hard to beat.

The Pam Robson trained Red Tiara (Dunne) was impressive over her final 600m on the grass in 33.3. Red Tiara won't be far off resuming and has previously won fresh-up. Fairlight (Young) was another to impress when sent out over 800m in 47.5, getting to the line strongly from the 600m in 33.9.

Khorabella (Moseley) also went from the 800m and recorded 46.5, the last 600m in 34.4. Carson's River (Chowdhoory) went over the same trip with sectionals in 46.1 and 34.3. Others over the same journey to record good times were Nowhere Man (Morris) and Magic Note (Morgan) together in 47.0 and 34.0, Bonshovi (Hill) in 50.0 and 35.0, Mathieu (Chowdhoory) alone in 46.9 and 35.7, and Pinup Coup (Morris) and Shanzino (Morgenrood) together in 47.7.

From the 1000m on the grass Gloss (Morris) and Jamie (Morgan) were paired together from the 1000m in 1.02.7, the final 600m in 35.9 with Gloss doing better at the finish. Enzo's Lad (Morgenrood) looked fit when he stepped out and breezed up the straight over 400m in 24.6 in preparation for Wednesday's Stewards. Stablemate Elfee (Morris) was three-quarter paced for most of her work but quickened from the 600m in 37.5, the last 400m in 23.7.

Reliable Glow (Chowdhoory) worked alone on the grass from the 1000m in 1.04.0, the final 600m in 36.5. Smile (Gestain) and Millbrook Express (Shaikh) started together with the former recording 49.0 from the 800m, the final 600m in 36.5 with his companion lengths behind after the saddle slipped. Ferrocious (R Mudoo) went over 800m alone in 37.8, the last 400m in 24.6.

Bon Genre (Taylor) was solo from the 1200m on the grass in 1.17.8, the final 600m in 36.5. Imelda's Girl (Bebey) worked very well in preparation for Saturday when from the 1000m she recorded 1.01.6, the final 600m in 36.0. Son of Maher (Morgan) wasn't out to break records in preparation for Wednesday when he covered 600m in 42.2, the last 400m in 25.9.

On the plough, the best of the morning came from So Brazen (Morgenrood) who went from the 1400m in 1.40.1, quickening from the 600m in 47.8. Emily Margaret (K Mudoo) and Allbut Me (Morgenrood) worked together from from the 1000m in 1.03.4, the last 600m in 37.0 with Emily Margaret doing best on the line.

The Te Akau pair of Challa (Laking) and Miss Scandanavia (P Richards) went together from the 800m in 37.8, the last 400m in 25.3. Stella Daze (Young) and Golden Valkyrie (O'Flaherty) were together on the plough over 800m in 51.8, the last 600m in 38.1. Pat In Brackets (K. Mudoo) and Hot Fuss (Toolooa) were timed from the 800m in 51.3, the last 600m in 39.1.

Others on the plough were Xpression (Didham) which went very easily over 800m in 1.09.4 and from the 600m in 51.5  Rangipo (Kuru) who three-quarter paced a lap in preparation for his Wednesday engagement. Wide Awake and Conclusion cantered in the middle while Richard of Yorke negotiated the low jumps.

Others on the grass over 800m were Cee Sharp (Morgan) in 49.0, Why Me (Morgenrood) in 52.2, Smiling Assasin (Shaikh) in 52.4, Bal Harbour (Moseley) in 51.8 and 37.5, Bilbao (Olwagen) and Joby (Asano) together in 50.4 and 37.8, Black Pearl (Carston) in 51.3 and 37.5, Hell Bound (Callaway) in 51.1, Vinsanity (Morgan) in 49.1 and 24.6, Coup Dreamwood (Morris) in 52.2, Luna Lady (Gestain) in 51.5 and 37.8 and Diplomat (Moseley) in 51.8 and 37.9.

Morse Code (Morgenrood) three-quarter paced from the 1200m on the grass and quickened from the 600m in 37.0, the final 400m in 24.8.