Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Sarabande and Royal Patch underlined their weekend prospects with impressive work at Matamata this morning.  Galloping on the courser proper, where the markers were out 14 metres and the going heavy, Sarabande (Fawcett) and Royal Patch (S Weatherley) were paired over a solid 1000m in 1:04.7, maintained their momentum for a final 600m in 37.6.

Sarabande, already a winner twice at Te Rapa, returns there on Saturday, while Royal Patch, the winner of two trials, makes his debut at Pukekohe on Friday.

Byzantine (Bosson) and Aquilo (Rusof) were also impressive in their course proper work against the rail in the four-metre position, where they were timed over 1000m in 1:07.8, quickening from the 600m in 36.8.

Savabeel colt Byzantine followed his maiden win last month with a trial hitout and will be hard to beat in the two-year-old stakes race at Te Rapa. Aquilo has had two trials ahead of his return to racing at Wanganui on Sunday.

Sleeping Beauty (S Weatherley) took time honours in her gallop over 1000m outside the markers, clocking 1:02.9 and 37.2 for the final 600m. She has improved for her recent fresh-up run and runs at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Mahalo (Handley) and Cailin (Hashazumi) looked sharp for Pukekohe as they cut out 1000m in 1:09 and 38.2. Over the same ground Lady Painton (Bosson) and Albatross Point (Rusof) clocked 1:07.9 and 38.1, Piazza (S Weatherley) 1:06.6 and 38.9, and Grand Ariana (Rusof) and Ritzy Sparkle (Bosson) 1:09.2 and 38.6.

Pukekohe entry Pacquiao (Handley) handled the ground well as he and Short Fuse (Parma) covered 1000m in 1:09 and 37.3, while Mr Universe (Hashazumi) and Paisley Park (Singh) prepared for Te Rapa over the same ground in 1:11.5 and 40.7.

On the all-weather track Sure He Can (Danis) and Alphastar (S McKay) reeled off 1000m in 1:03.2 and 37, Cavallo Veloce (P McKay) and Sagunto (S McKay) ran the same trip in 1:05 and 36.4, and Tommyra (Cole) took 1:12.2 and 41.

On the sand Te Rapa candidates Dubai Shuffle (Zuppicich) and Let Me By (Handley) were in solid work over ground, with the last 1200m taking 1:19.5, 1:05 and 38.2.

Underthemoonlight (K McQuade) wasn't extended over 1000m in 1:09.2 and 41.2, while Raspberry Sweet (Zuppicich) and Lucky Strike (Hashazumi) took 1:09.5 and 40, and Incantesimo (Handley) and Stand Firm (Parma) 1:07.4 and 39.4.

En Soie (Hashazumi) and Recollect (Parma) were timed over the last 1200m of their work in 1:26.8, 1:11.3 and 41.6. In easy solo gallops over 1000m, The Chaser (Rusof) recorded 1:11 and 41.2, Tweedledee (S Weatherley) 1:10.1 and 39.9, and Adis (Donoghue) 1:13.2 and 41.8.

Credit - Dennis Ryan