Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Interstellar and Tavis Star shaped up well for their weekend engagements when galloping stylishly together during a foggy training session at Matamata this morning.

The only work that could be fully timed was in the first hour of the session before fog rolled in, hindering sectional timing initially and then preventing any timing at all.

Earlybirds Interstellar (Lammas) and Tavis Star (K Jones) caught the eye in their work over 1000m in 1:06.2, hitting the line strongly at the end of a final 600m in 36.7.

Interstellar showed real promise in a brief spring campaign and is forward after a recent trial, while Tavis Star is a big improver from her fresh-up third. Both will run at Wanganui on Sunday.

Stablemate Stella Di Paco (Leveque), an entry for Pukekohe on Friday, was well held in her work over 1000m in 1:07.4 and 39.7.  Her last-start third suggested she is not far from another win.

Ya Think (Danis) prepared for Pukekohe over 1000m in 1:05.5, but no sectional time was possible. Keepherinmind (Coleman) got through a similar task to clock 1:05.2, while Gingernuts (Cameron) and Zip Zap (Miller) returned 1:06.8, and Elite Blue (Turner) and an El Hermano gelding (Robinson) were allowed 1000m in 1:09.8.

Astrid (C Grylls) was kept to 1000m in 1:10.2 and 40, while those to work steadily over ground included Linchpin (Cameron) and Royal Success (G Ritchie), who covered their last 1200m in 1:27.2, and Queens Rose (Gorham), who strolled over 1200m in 1:31.8 and 45.4. She is set to run next in the Rotorua Stakes on Saturday week.

The only horse to work on the course proper was last-start winner Sororia (C Grylls), looking bright as she strode over 1200m in preparation for Te Rapa on Saturday.

Credit -Dennis Ryan