Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Karaka Million candidates were the centre of attention at Matamata this morning as they prepared for the two lucrative age-group races at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Two-year-olds Aotea Lad (Rusof) and Yourdeel (Miller) were well matched over 1000m on the plough in 1:04.6, finishing off strongly with 600m in 36.8. Eclipse Stakes placegetter Aotea Lad wore visor blinkers in his work and will have them added to his gear on the weekend.

Karaka Million 2YO favourite Probabeel (Miller) looked very well when paired with Mongolian Khan Trophy entry Burgundy Belle (Rusof) over 1000m in a well contained 1:05.5 and 37.2.

Louis Luck and Challa, the remaining two of Jamie Richards' five Karaka Million 2YO contingent, were ridden by their raceday jockeys Shafiq Rusof and Jonathan Riddell in smart work over 1000m in 1:02.5 and 35.7. Challa was fitted in blinkers and will wear them on Saturday.

Karaka Million 3YO Classic candidates In A Twinkling (Miller) and Prise De Fer (Rusof) ran the last 1000m of their work in 1:04.7 and 36.9. Sword Of Osman (Miller), who runs in the Mongolian Khan Trophy, was travelling sweetly at the end of a slick 1000m in 1:02.6 and 36.

At the end of a busy hour overseeing his Karaka Million meeting team, Jamie Richards was left satisfied with their well-being. “All good to this point, everything's gone to plan,” he said, “now we just want to get them there in the same shape.”

Peter McKay was on board his Karaka Million 3YO candidate Langkawi when he worked in company on the all-weather track with his son Jacob's Karaka Million 2YO runner Aalaalune (S McKay). The pair had pace on throughout 1000m as they completed the trip in 1:02.4 and 36.7.

Likely Westbury Classic favourite Volpe Veloce (Coleman) also worked on the all-weather track, where she strode over her last 1200m in 1:20.8, with the final 1000m in 1:06.4 and 600m in 37.8.

Back on the plough, Railway runner-up Princess Kereru (Lammas) went with Penteverest (Winter) over 1000m in 1:01.9 and 36.8. Princess Kereru runs in the Concorde Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday, while her stablemate will start at Pukekohe the day before.

On the course proper, where the going was dead 18 metres out, Concorde entry Spring Heat (Karlsson) impressed in her work with Charles Road (Yanagida), cutting out 1000m in 1:02.8 and 36.3. Charles Road begins his Auckland Cup preparation at Pukekohe on Friday.

Sleeping Beauty (Yanagida), who also runs in the Concorde, cantered away from the 1000m mark to run that distance in 1:08.3 and wound up impressively from the 600m in 35.3.

Karaka Million 3YO entry Pinmedown (Lammas) was partnered by She's A Thief (Bayliss) over 1200m in 1:20.2, 1:05.8 and 36.6. She's A Thief will be entered for the Concorde and the Westbury Classic. Karaka Cup entry Sasanof's Hero (J Collett) went with Cha Siu Bao (Grylls) over 1200m in 1:18.6, 1:04.4 and 37.8.

Back on the plough, Pukekohe form runner Veine d'Or (Donoghue) impressed in her work over 1000m in 1:03.7 and 36. Others to run the same trip included Mahalo (Grylls) and Incantesimo (Hashizume) in 1:01.5 and 37; Jewel Of Patch (Yanagida) 1:03.4 and 36.3; Bravissimo (Coleman) 1:08.3 and 39.2; Ensoie (Handley) and Swiss Maid (Hashizume) 1:08 and 39.1.

Credit - Dennis Ryan