Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes candidates Heroic Valour, Sassy 'N' Smart and Gold Rush enhanced their weekend prospects when all three worked impressively at Matamata this morning.

Galloping on a dead track against the rail in the 6.5-metre position Heroic Valour (Miller) and Sassy 'N' Smart (Cameron) worked away from the 1200-metre mark to run that distance in 1:20.2. They built up momentum for a final 1000m in 1:05.5 and hit the line full of running at the end of 600m in 36.8. They have both trained on well from the Diamond Stakes.

Gold Rush (D Weatherley) also looked in good order for Saturday's two-year-old feature when she was paired with Rotorua Friday entry Orange Peel (Hepi) over a sharp 1000m in 1:02.9 and 600m in 36.3. Gold Rush was allowed an easy time after her Matamata Breeders' Stakes win and has come to hand pleasingly.

During a session when fog hindered some timing, the remainder of the course proper work took place 20 metres out. Queens Rose (Tynan) looked ready for a bold fresh-up effort at Ellerslie on Saturday when she strode freely over 1000m in 1:05.9, finishing off with a smart final 600m in 36.9.

Sound Proposition (Coleman) looked comfortable as he prepared for Ellerslie with 1000m in 1:07.2 and 38.8, while Temple Tiger (S McKay) drew attention to his weekend prospects when he led Brigadier (Winters) at the end of 1200m in 1:19.8, 1:05.2 and 36.7.

Herschal (Miler) and Carmenize (Fawcett) were paired over 1200m in 1:24.6, 1:07.2 and 39.3. Two more for Rotorua, Tatters (Coleman) and Stella Di Paco (Lammas), covered 1000m in 1:08.9 and 39.5, while Douro (Sapsworth) and Jubilate (Rastrick) left 1200m behind in 1:19.8, 1:06 and 38.8.

On the all-weather track Whatz Occurring (Danis) prepared for Ellerslie with 1000m in 1:06.6 and 38.4. Rotorua runner Keep Carmen Carion (Sapsworth) ran the same distance in 1:08.8 and 41.5, while Dinero (P McKay) and Al Pacino (S McKay) hit the line strongly after 1000m in 1:07.2 but no sectional time was possible.

On the sand Fascination Street (Coleman) signalled her Ellerslie prospects with a solid 1000m in 1:04.6, with fog preventing 600m time. Cool Running (K McQuade) was timed over 1200m in 1:21.8 and 1000m in 1:05.6, while Almarie (D Weatherley) was timed over 1200m in 1:17.3 and 600m in 37.5. Gentle Tonton (D Weatherley) and Etonette (S Weatherley) ran the same trip in 1:17.8 and 37.6. Ultimata (Wratten) was allowed to stretch out over 1000m in 1:11.9 and 39.6.

Credit - Dennis Ryan