Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Perfect Fit and Aotearower looked ready to continue their winning form at Ellerslie on the weekend when they galloped stylishly together at Matamata this morning.  Working on the plough, Perfect Fit (Coleman) and Aotearower (Davidson) had pace on throughout 1200m, cutting out the distance in 1:14.2, 1000m in 59.8, and hitting the line hard with a final 600m in 34.6.

It was first-class work by the Kelso pair, who have trained on pleasingly from their last-start wins. Perfect Fit will run in Saturday's Westbury Classic, while Aotearower is an entry for the R85 1600.

Another for the Westbury Classic, Flavigny (C Ormsby), was paired with Makarios (Shin) in solid work over 1000m in 1:02 and 35.2. Flavigny has made good progress since her Wairarapa Breeders' Stakes win.

Rose Of Virginia (Dowling) underlined her fitness for the Auckland Cup when she and Southern Power (A Jones) got through strong work over ground. They were timed from the 1200m in 1:17, with the last 1000m in 1:02.4 and 600m in 36.5.

Wellington Cup winner Mr Impatience continued his Auckland Cup preparation when co-trainer Chad Ormsby took him over two rounds of the plough. He was timed over the final 800m of his first round in 58.5 and the 600m in 44.6, then after easing down he rolled into his second 800m at quicker tempo, clocking 54.7 and 38.9.

Snapshot (Rastrick) and Douro (Sapsworth) were paired in smart work over 1200m in 1:15.7, 1000m in 1:01 and the final 600m in 34.6. Snapshot will be entered for both Ellerslie and Waverley on Saturday, while his stablemate runs at Ellerslie.

Silverdale (Coleman), who steps up to weight-for-age company in Saturday's New Zealand Stakes, went with fellow Ellerslie candidate Chadsdale (Ritchie) in a soundly run 1200m taking 1:16.8, 1:01.8 and 36.

Rasa Lila and Belle Eclipse were ridden by their trainers Stephen Ramsay and Julia Ritchie in dashing work over 1000m in 59.5 and 34.8. Belle Eclipse is entered for Ellerslie, while her stablemate is being reserved for later in the month.

Felice's Dream (Tynan) was also in form over 1000m, stopping the clock at 59 and 34.8, while Nothing Trivial (Cole) and Dezignator (R Jones) returned 1:02.8 and 35.5. Chambord (Leveque) prepared for Waverley with 1200m in 1:22 and 600m in 37.3.

Paco Rabanne (Grylls) and She's Elusive (Andersen) left 1000m behind in 1:04.3 and 37.2, Smartly (Hillis) took 1:05.2 and 37, Meritaggio (S Collett) 1:03 and 36.8, What's Occurring (Janis) and Temple Tiger (S McKay) 1:03.4 and 35.8, Polynesia (Ramsay) 1:05.9 and 36.8, and Sarabande (J Collett) and Thailand (S Collett) 1:02.6 and 37.2.

Light Up A Screen (S Collett) strode over 1200m in 1:20.2, 1000m in 1:05.4 and quickening for a final 600m in 36.2. Unicorn Zone (Coleman) was timed over 1000m in 1:06.4 and 38.2, I See Fire (R Jones) took 1:05.6 and 39.2, Alert (Ritchie) 1:08.2 and 40.2, Herschal (Lammas) 1:09.6 and 40.5, Quintastics (S Weatherley) 1:13.3 and 44, and Galaxy Miss (N Waddell) and a Rip Van Winkle filly (Turner) 1:11.2 and 39.8.

On the course proper, which was good 18 metres out, Sound Proposition (Coleman) looked in form for Ellerslie when sent over 1000m in 1:05.3 and 600m in 37.6. On the all-weather track Family Secret (Grylls) was timed from the 800m in 52.8 and 38.2.

Credit - Dennis Ryan