Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Shillelagh and Windborne shaped as winning prospects at Ruakaka when they got through sound work at Matamata this morning.

Galloping 22 metres out on a slow course proper, Shillelagh (Lammas) and Windborne (K Jones) got through 1000m in 1:09l3 and finished off with 600m in 39.8. It was sound work by both horses, who are part of a sizeable team being sent north this weekend by premiership leaders Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards.

Beacon Of Hope (Leveque) was paired with Its Our Showtime (K Jones) over 1000m in 1:09.8 and 39.9. Beacon Of Hope returns to the scene of his last-start Ruakaka win, while his stablemate also has good form credentials, having followed her maiden win with a respectable fourth in Rating 65 grade.

Astrid (Miller) and Opulent (K Jones) prepared for their Ruakaka engagements with 1000m in 1:10.9 and 40.6, while Te Aroha Sunday entries Grandeur (G Ritchie) and Herschal (Lammas) ran the trip in 1:11.6 and 41.

Another for Te Aroha, Darci Deniro (Fraser-Hayes), and Letmeby (Gorham) were not extended when covering 1000m in 1:11.8 and 42.7. Esprit de Corps (Miller) and Latin Rose (Fawcett) worked away steadily to cover 1200m in 1:27.9, picking up the tempo for a final 1000m in 1:10.4 and 600m in 40.4.

On the all-weather track Clovelly Bay (S McKay) shaped up for Ruakaka when he led a Mastercraftsman gelding (Lanigan) at the end of 1000m in 1:04.7 and 37.5. Clovelly Bay looks better for a recent run, his first since returning from Hong Kong.

Perfect Start was ridden by her co-trainer Wayne Hillis in smart work over 1000m in 1:04.5 and 36.8. She is being aimed at next week's Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga.

Lucky Feather (Cole) had pace on throughout 1200m in 1:17.2, 1:02.5 and 37, while stablemate Le Bon Fin (Danis) left 1000m behind in 1:06.1 and 38.2. Awapuni Hurdles runner Boy (Cole) did solid work over two rounds, with his final 1000m in 1:05.

On the sand Hayley Ann (A Jones) and Praise Dan (Grant) were paired over 1000m in 1:05.2 and 37.4. Good Vibes (P Brosnan) and Bewitched (Miles) ran the same distance in 1:07.6 and 37.8.

Whatz Occurring (Cole) took 1:05.6 and 38.4 for 1000m, while Anuka (Gorham) returned 1:09.4 and 40.8 without being pushed.

Dubai Shuffle (Gorham) was kept to three-quarter-pace over 1200m in 1:29.5 and 43.2. In similar work Splurge (Shailer) and Cabaret (Lammas) covered 1000m in 1:14.7 and 44.8.

Credit - Dennis Ryan