Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Art Beat shaped up for feature Queen's Birthday weekend racing with a solid gallop at Matamata this morning.

Galloping 22 metres out on a heavy courser proper with co-trainer Wayne Hillis in the saddle, Art Beat strode over the last 1200m of her work in 1:20.9, with the final 1000m in 1:07 and 600m in 40.3. After placings in strong company at her last two starts, the noted mudlark should be the horse to beat in the Ag Challenge Stakes at Wanganui on Saturday, in which she will be reunited with Noel Harris.

Stablemates Smartly (K Hillis) and Perfect Start (Ulcinar) also impressed in their work over 1200m in 1:20.7, 1000m in 1:06.8 and 600m in 40.9. They will both run at Ellerslie on Saturday. Crown Of Thorns (Grant) and Gospel (C Ormsby) prepared for their weekend assignments with 1200m in 1:23.5, picking up the tempo to cover the last 1000m in 1:05.5 and 600m in 39.2.

Last start winner Cody Cat (R Turner), who runs at Ellerslie on Saturday, finished his work off well over 1200m in 1:26.4, 1000m in 1:11 and 600m in 40.6. Essential (S Wong) and Revenge (Tanaka) had first use of the track when they cut out 1000m in 1:07.4 and 600m in 39.

Atom Cat (Grylls) enjoyed the conditions as he and Mosh Pit (Sapsworth) worked over 1200m in 1:22.7, with the last 1000m in 1:07.9 and 600m in 40.2. Atom Cat runs over 1400 metres at Ellerslie on Saturday while his stablemate will be an entry at Wanganui, dependent on track conditions.

Viking Ace (P Turner) and Midnight Rendezvous (K McQuade) began steadily from the 1200m mark to run that distance in 1:27.2, with the last 1000m taking 1:08.4 and the 600m in 40.2. She's Insatiable (Grylls) worked away from the 1200m mark and recorded 1:27.4, picking up Let's Be A Star (Forbes) for a final 1000m in 1:10.9 and 600m in 41.

Master Guru (M Brosnan) ran the last 1000m of his work in 1:10.8 and 600m in 41.6, while consistent placegetter Bellorussiya (Forbes) ran the same distance in 1:10.2 and 41.2. Smoke (J Brosnan) revelled in the conditions as he strode over ground, with his last 1200m in 1:30.4, 1000m in 1:14 and 600m in 42.8.

On the sand Castledale (R Jones) impressed over 1000m in 1:02.9, the last 600m in 36.3. The Stephen Autridge-trained gelding has trained on well from his last start win and will run for the last time this winter in the three-year-old 1600 at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Race rival Maeve Davone (Hepi) also turned in solid work when cutting out 1200m in 1:16.5 and 600m in 38.5. Over the same ground Natsinga (Leveque) and Canthassleme (S Wong) returned 1:18.6 and 38.2. Natsinga runs at Ellerslie on Saturday, while his stablemate will run at Pukekohe on Friday.

Copacabana (Sapsworth), another for Pukekohe, worked over 1000m in 1:06.7 and 600m in 39, while Taihoa Gold (J Brosnan) and Charlie Clark (P Brosnan) were not after time over the same ground in 1:12.7 and 39.4.

Supercharged (Ulcinar) and King Piccolo (K Hillis) got through solid over 1200m in 1:16.2, 1:02.6 and 37.2. Over the same ground Arnold (Sapsworth) and Kashin Girl (Chiong) recorded 1:19.5, 1:05 and 37.2, and Madetomeasure (Grylls) and Our Essence (Tanaka) took 1:21.8, 1:07.4 and 40.2.

On the all-weather track Lady Scarlett (Sapsworth) and Alice Web Ellis (Chiong) left 1000m behind in 1:07 and 600m in 38.8. Traditio (McRae) was timed over the last 800m of his work in 56.4 and 600m in 41.8.

Credit - Dennis Ryan and photos from Stacey Akers