Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Fog severely restricted timing at Matamata this morning as horses prepared for another long weekend of feature racing.

Gallops that could be timed late in the session on the course proper, which was slow 25m out, included Jubilate (Sapsworth) and Firostefani (Wilson), who cut out 1000 in 1:07.4 with their final 600m in a respectable 38.7. Provided the track is reasonable, Jubilate will run in the open 1600 at Te Rapa on Saturday, while Firostefani looks ready for a bold fresh-up run in a maiden sprint at Avondale on Friday.

Two others from the in-form Graham Richardson stable, Letmeby (Coleman) and Speedy Jax (B Grylls), prepared for their respective Te Rapa and Avondale engagements with a soundly run 1200m in 1:20.7, 1000m in 1:07 and 600m in 40.1.

The only other course proper gallop that could be timed involved the Glenn Old stablemates Eight Mates (C Grylls) and Five Hundred (P Turner), who travelled well to the end of 1200m in 1:21.3 as they prepared for the three-year-old middle-distance event at Te Rapa.

Amongst those that could not be timed on the course proper were Pussy O'Reilly (B Grylls), who was strong to the line in preparation for the Anzac 1600 at Awapuni on Friday. She has trained on well from her solid Easter Handicap effort and will be ridden again by Noel Harris.

Race rival Ididit (C Grylls) also hit the line well, while Equanimity (Coleman) did sound work ahead of a likely Cambridge Breeders' Stakes start, working in company with Chambord (Cameron), who may resume at Awapuni or Te Rapa.

Irish Encore (O'Sullivan) and Kaleidoscope (J Wong) did good work, as did their two-year-old stablemate De Kensington Oval (Yu), who runs in the fillies' event at Avondale.

A handful of gallops on the sand were recorded, among them Te Rapa three-year-old entry Ekraarstatic (Brown) in company with Avondale maiden candidate Sergios (K Hillis). The Stephen Autridge-trained pair cut out 1200m in 1:21.8, travelling well over the final stages.

Weekend runners China Tea (Hong) and Quintastics (O'Sullivan) also worked soundly over ground, with their 1200m in 1:19.4 and 1000m in 1:04.2. Labels (W Hillis) was timed over 1000m in 1:09.6.

Credit - Dennis Ryan