Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Pussy O'Reilly was the star act amongst Windsor Park Plate candidates to gallop at Matamata this morning in preparation for Saturday's Hastings feature.
On the all-weather track with raceday rider Kelly Myers in the saddle, Pussy O'Reilly rolled into her work passing the 1200-metre mark and was timed over that distance in 1:16.2. She quickened the tempo from the 1000m in 1:01.1 and rounded off with a brilliant final 600m in 35.6.

It was outstanding work and showed that the Kelso-trained mare will be at peak in her attempt to go one better than her Foxbridge Plate and Makfi Stakes placings to arch rival I Do.

Stablemate Xanadu (K Jones) got through sound work on the all-weather surface, cutting out her last 1200m in 1:20.6, 1000m in 1:05.5 and the final 600m in a smart 36.5. She has dropped off the radar lately but is in good shape to defend her Windsor Park Plate crown.

Pure Champion appeared to have trained on well from his fresh-up Makfi Stakes third when raceday rider Craig Grylls took him over 1200m on the course proper, where the going was slow 22 metres out. As he tends to do, the former Hong Kong galloper was keen through the early stages before flattening out to cover the full distance in 1:21.2, 1000m in 1:04.9 and the final 600m in a respectable 38.1.

In other work on the course proper, Hastings first day placegetter Fancy Dress (Coleman) did solid work over 1000m in 1:03.1 and 37.8, while possible Hastings runners Flaming (Cameron) and Longbeach (Lammas) travelled up strongly at the end of 1200m in 1:24.9, 1:08.8 and 39.1.

Hastings-bound Whosyourmaster (Man) cut out 1000m in 1:05.4, with the final 600m in 37.5. Over the same ground Tiger Moss (R Jones), who runs at the transferred Te Aroha meeting on Saturday, returned 1:07.3 and 38.5. Maestro Tom (Coleman) and Hilarious Honour ((R Jones) turned in good work for their respective Hastings and Te Aroha engagements with 1000m in 1:05.2 and 37.6.

The Last Shower (C Ormsby) looked in good order for Te Aroha when cutting out 1000m in 1:05.3 and 37.8. Hastings runners Peregrine (Myers) and Wairaka (Coleman) strode over the last 1200m of their work in 1:22, with the last 1000m in 1:08.2 and 600m in 40.6. Juggernaut Rock (Cameron), another heading to the Bay, led Penny Arcade (K Price) at the end of 1200m in 1:25.5, 1:09.7 and 40.6.

Arnold (Grylls) left 1000m behind in 1:06.7 and 38.6, while Gardone (M Brosnan) returned 1:09 and 40.2. Miss Mossman (Grylls), who looks in good order to resume at Hastings, could not be timed due to poor light early but hit the line well strongly. Altai Rose (Grylls) worked right-handed and was timed over her final 600m in the back straight in 39.6.

Back on the all-weather track, Te Aroha runners The Fire Inside (C Ormsby) and She's Samashing (T Johnson) were in good form over 1000m in 1:02.8 and 600m in 35.7. Irish Moon (Coleman) and Makarska (K Jones) shaped up for Taupo on Friday with a tidy 1000m in 1:03.2 and 36.8.

Gold Trail Stakes entry Divissima (C Ormsby) and Te Aroha runner Le Choix (C Ormsby) covered 1000m in 1:06.7, quickening stylishly over the final 600m in 36.9. Beckham (J McKay) and Al Pacino (S McKay) continued their spring preparations with 1000m in 1:05.4 and 600m in 37.8.

Dubai Shuffle (Sapsworth) was travelling well alongside Victory Shall Be Mine (Rhodes) at the end of 1200m in 1:20.2, 1:05 and 37.5. Vito Genovese (P McKay) ran a solo 1000m in 1:05.2 and Flavigny (Coleman) and Liberare (C Ormsby) clocked 1:06.6 and 36.8.
Diafuku (C Ormsby) was not extended over 1000m in 1:09.2 and 37.8, while Wisecrack (K Jones) was kept to 1200m in 1:31.7 and 44.2.

On the slower sand, Rose Of Virginia (Dowling) and Always On My Mind (Leveque) were paired in sound work over 1000m in 1:03.8 and 37.5. Among those to work strongly over ground were Boy (Goodwin), who was timed from the 1200m in 1:21.9, 1:07 and 38.4, while stablemate Le Bob Fin (Goodwin) completed a similar task in 1:22.4, 1:07.6 and 37.6.
Inis Rose (Dowling) and Augusta National (Leveque) covered 1200m in 1:23.4, 1:08.3 and 40.5, while Wolfwhistle (Allen) returned 1:26.6, 1:10.4 and 40.2, and Cast King (Coleman) 1:30.1, 1:13.2 and 41.7.

Credit - Dennis Ryan