Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Ellerslie weekend candidates Persuasive and Secret Spirit shaped up well in their work at Matamata this morning.

Galloping right-handed 15 metres out on a slow course proper, Persuasive (Coleman) and Secret Spirit (Umis) rolled into their work from the 1000-metre and were timed over their last 600m up the back straight in 37.6. They finished off impressively with a final 200m in 12.3.

The O'Sullivan/Scott-trained Persuasive has put together a run of placed form this preparation and deserves a win, while her stablemate Secret Spirit is a likely improver from her recent first-up run.

Irish Heartbeat (R Jones) worked well in preparation for New Plymouth on Saturday when she and O'Know (Lammas) ran their last 600m in 38.8. Heroic Valour (Cameron), who runs in a pre-race trial at Taupo on Friday, was paired with recent trial winner Corporate Missile (Fawcett) in similar work, cutting out the last 600m in 39.7.

The promising three-year-old pair Glass Slipper (D Weatherley) and Sweet Leader (C Grylls) looked bright as they prepared for their Taupo assignments with 600m in 38.2, the last 200m in 12.2.

Strada Cavallo (Rastrick) was allowed to stride over 1200m, running the full distance in 1:23.2 and the final 600m in 39. The smart Graham Richardson-trained filly is making good progress towards a return to racing at Hastings on Saturday week.

Love Triangle (Cameron) and O'Naturelle (Fawcett), who has won her only two trials, prepared for Taupo with a final 600m in 38.2. Others to finish off in similar style included New Plymouth entry Resurrect (Shin) in 40.3, Taupo runners Trigger (Dowling) and Solomon (S McKay) 40.6, Gardone (M Brosnan) 39.7, and Ruby Armani (Lammas) 40.4.

On the all-weather track the Peter McKay-trained pair Amarula (S McKay) and Barcelo (Davidson) caught the eye as they cut out 1000m in 1:03 and 36.8.

Over the same distance Antonio Lombardo (Davidson) and Barnaby (S McKay) shaped up well in 1:02.4 and 36.7. Barnaby, the winner of two of his three autumn starts, looks well as he progresses toward a a trial.

Taupo entry Anuka (Sapsworth) was timed over 1000m in 1:08.6 and 37.9, while the unbeaten filly Volpe Veloce (C Grylls) and Tesia (Fraser-Hayes) ran their last 600m in 37.7. Lady Painton (M Grylls) had plenty up her sleeve as she finished 800m in 58 and 43.5.

On the sand Battle Cry N Waddell) underlined his fitness for Taupo when cutting out 1000m in 1:04.3 and 36. Promising three-year-old Hello M'Lady (S McKay), who resumes at Taupo, was paired with Tyrone (Davidson) in smart work over 1000m in 1:02.8 and 36.8. Another Taupo entry to work well was Matamay (Turner) as she strode over 1000m in 1:05.7 and 36.6.

Gold Rush (D Weatherley) got through her work over 1000m encouragingly in 1:08 and 37.8, while El Cajero (M Jones) and Bluetwentytwo (R Jones) ran the same trip in 1:12.5 and 40.9, and Only If (N Waddell) returned 1:10.2 and 39.8.

Silver Eclipse (Ritchie) finished her work with 600m in 36.6, while stablemate Devil's Harmony (S Collett) took 38.2. Sound Proposition (D Weatherley) was timed from the 800m in 57.7 and 42.3, while Splurge (McNab) was strong at the end of a similar assignment in 59.7 and 43.3.

Others timed over 800m included Sassy 'N' Smart (Cameron) and Lucy Wildstyle (Fawcett) in 59.8 and 44, and Echezeaux (Leveque) 1:00.8 and 44.8.

Credit - Dennis Ryan