Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Class galloper Volpe Veloce limbered up for her return to racing with a sparkling piece of work at Matamata this morning.  Galloping solo against the rail of the course proper, where the going was just into the dead range, Volpe Veloce had pace on from the 1000-metre mark, running that distance in 1:02 and winding up over the final 600m in 34.9.  The Graham Richardson/Gavin Parker-trained mare was ridden this morning by her raceday jockey Jake Bayliss, who reported that she felt in excellent order for her Ellerslie weekend assignment, which will be a dress rehearsal for the Gr. 1 Sistema Railway on New Year's Day.

Other course proper work took place 22 metres out, where Avec Moi (Bayliss) and La Estella (Satyajeed) prepared for their home track meeting on Friday over 1000m in 1:05 and 600m in 37.6. Stablemate Kane (Bayliss) did solo work over 1200m in 1:24.8, 1:09.6 and 41.6, while Makarios (Bayliss) cut out 1000m in 1:05.2 and 37.8.

Most other work took place on the plough, where Heroic Valour (Bosson) and Melody Belle (McNab) were paired in smart work ahead of Ellerslie Saturday, cutting out 1000m in 1:03.5 and 36.5. Heroic Valour looked close to his best again when third at Pukekohe last week, while last year's star two-year-old Melody Belle is forward after two preparatory trials.

Hot In Heels (N Turner) looked on target for Friday as she strode over ground and covered her last 1200m in 1:24.5, 1000m in 1:06.7 and the final 600m in a sparkling 35.8. Thailand was also in good form over ground as her trainer Jim Collett let her stride over the last 1200m in 1:14.8, 59.5 and 35.7.

Ellerslie entry O'Hara (Dowling) also caught the eye with 1000m in 1:04.5 and 600m in 35.9, while Elettra (Coleman) was keen in her work over the same ground in 1:01.3 and 35.6.

Seraphim (D Johnson) prepared for Trentham on Saturday as she and Donizetti (J Ritchie) cut out 1000m in 1:03.2 and 36.5, while stablemates Asama Blue (J Ritchie) and Trois Vallees (Chong) did similar work in 1:03.6 and 36.6.

Vinevale (Bosson) and Aquilo (Lammas) looked in good order for their weekend assignments as they left 1000m behind in 1:04.5 and 37. Spring Heat (S Weatherley) and Keyser Soze (Bayliss) were paired in good work over 1000m in 1:01.4 and 36.8, while Princess Kereru (Coleman) and Bits And Pieces (Lammas) also ran time over 1000m in 1:01.6 and 36, and Incantesimo (Gorham) and Xbox (Handley) took 1:03.4 and 36.5.

Ciao Siu Bao (S Weatherley) and Rainbow Song (Bayliss) went at a solid rate over 1200m in 1:17.8, 1:02 and 36.5. Also over ground Over Torque (Tynan) returned 1:18.7 and 37.5, Hay Tiger (Dowling) and Anevay (Tynan) 1:23.1 and 37.2, She's Ice Cold (M Brosnan) 1:19.8, and 37.6, Kariokka (Take) and Fine And Dandy (Osborne) 1:23.2 and 37.1, Pacquiao (Gorham) and Flying Trapeze (Cox), Sasanof's Hero (Abel) 1:16.5 and 36.8, and Press My Buttons (Dellow) 1:26.3 and 41.2.

Zambezi Warrior (Bosson) who will run next in the Waikato Gold Cup, returned 1:11.8 and 42.8 for the last 1000m of striding work, while Royal Success (McNab) took 1:11.6 and 42.4, Cote D'Or (Wratten) 1:10.8 and 42, and Arraignment (Dowling) 1:13.2 and 40.8.

In quicker work Summer Monsoon (Bosson) and Wandering Eye (McNab) left 1000m behind in 1:06.8 and 38.4, and Wide Awake (McNab) 1:09 and 38.7, while Our King Sway (Bailey) ran in from the 800m in 55.2 and 40.3.