Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Ryder Stakes-bound pair Purcentage and Nectacolecta confirmed their readiness for Saturday's Otaki feature with an impressive gallop at Matamata this morning.

Working 12 metres out on a slow course proper, Purcentage (C Grylls) and Nectacolecta (Coleman) were well matched over 1000m in 1:11.7 and 600m in 40.4, time they could easily have improved upon if their riders had wished. The Graham Richardson-trained pair, both winners of their only start to date, are in excellent order for the final stakes race of the season.

With training tracks in good condition after a spell of improved weather, several high profile performers form the past season were allowed to stretch out in the early stages of their new preparations. Dual Group One winner Viadana (C Grylls) looked very bright when she strode over 1000m on the sand in 1:08.4, with her final 600m in 39.4.

Xanadu (Coleman) also worked on the sand, where she was well held over 1000m in 1:11.2 and 600m in 41.2. Like Viadana, her likely first start will be in the Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on August 16.

Star three-year-old colt Puccini was ridden by his co-trainer Peter McKay when he worked on the all-weather track in company with his stablemate Canterino (S McKay), running a sound 1000m in 1:05.4 and 600m in 38.2. The New Zealand Derby winner is making very good progress towards spring racing.

The Kelso-trained stablemates Bounding, Fix and Pussy O'Reilly were all ridden by Kerry Jones in well-held solo work on the all-weather track, with all three at three-quarter-pace over the final stages of their workouts.

Talented two-year-old Queen Of Navarre (S McKay) prepared for Saturday's Ruakaka meeting when she and Antonio Lombardo (P McKay) cut out 1000m in 1:05.2 and 37. Miss Grace (E Holmes) covered the same ground in 1:06.8 and 39.2.

Back on the sand, the Alan Tait-trained and ridden two-year-olds Southern Icon and Sherpa shaped up well in separate gallops. Southern Icon, who returns to Ruakaka this weekend, was in brilliant form over 800m in 47.2 and 35.2, while Sherpa prepared for the Ryder Stakes over the same distance in 48.6 and 35.8.

Witz End (J Collett) did smart work in preparation for Ruakaka as he cut out 1000m in 1:02.8 and 600m in 36.4. Otaki entries Centavada (P Turner) and Iffitel (Cole) were also in good form over 1000m in 1:05.9 and 38.6, while Impatient Dreams (K McQuade) ran the same trip in 1:05 and 38.2.

Ruakaka candidate Have No Mercy (S McKay) left 1000m behind in 1:05.6 and 38.4, Flying Fantasy (Coleman) took 1:11.3 and 39.4, Atom Cat (Wilson) 1:07.8 and 39.8, Wairaka (D Wilson) 1:07.5 and 39.6, and Tiger Moss (Coleman) 1:13.6 and 41.5.

Kinda Leica (H McQuade) covered 1200m in 1:21.3, 1000m in 1:06.6 and 600m in 37.8. Smartly (W Hillis) ran in from the 800m in 53, with her final 600m in 38.2.

Unknown Pleasures (C Ormsby) and Liberare (Coleman) finished off in good style on the course proper but no time was taken. They both resume at Ruakaka on Saturday.

Credit - Dennis Ryan