Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Silk Chardonnay confirmed her fitness for Saturday's Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup when she got through a searching gallop at Matamata this morning.

With raceday rider Anna Jones in the saddle, Silk Chardonnay worked over 2000 metres on the plough and was allowed full stretch from the 1600. She was timed over the last 1200m in 1:15.8, 1000m in 1:02.9 and hit the line with a final 600m in 37.4.

The Karen Fursdon-trained mare, who has scored impressive lower grade wins at her last two starts, was in no hurry to pull up from this morning's gallop, further indicating that Riccarton's 3200 metres will hold no fears for her.

A number of entrants for Saturday's Tauranga meeting also impressed in their work on the plough. Irish Encore (O'Sullivan) and Fiftyshadesofgrey (Olwagen) had pace on throughout 1000m in 1:00.4 and 600m in 35.2. Irish Encore has trained on well from her last-start win, while her stablemate is in forward order to resume on the weekend.

Smashing (Hercock) and No Tricks (Cameron) drew attention to their Tauranga prospects with smart work over 1200m in 1:20.7, 1:04.2 and 36, while Lady Le Fay (K Shailer) did well over the same ground in 1:17.6, 1:03.2 and 36.4.

Irish Moon (Coleman), who was scratched from Te Rapa due to a wide draw, looked on song for Tauranga as he cut out 1000m in 1:00.8 and 35.4. Beauty Giant (Coleman) and Morena (R Jones) prepared for the weekend with a solid 1200m in 1:14.7, 1:00.2 and 36.2. Two others from the Lance Noble team, Lookatmepins (Leveque) and Saoirse (Dowling), also impressed over 1200m in 1:14.6, 1:00.3 and 35.6.

Letmeby (Sapsworth) and Android (Rhodes) got through sound work with1200m in 1:17.4, 1:02 and 36.2, while Dezignator (R Jones) ran the same trip in 1:17.5, 1:02.6 and 36.5.

Cast King (Coleman) prepared for Tauranga when he and Da Shindig (R Jones) strode over 1200m in 1:18.2, 1:03.4 and 36.9. La Adelita (Hercock) went solo over the same distance in 1:21.6, 1:05.8 and 37.3, Dubai Shuffle (Sapsworth) took 1:20.4, 1:05.2 and 37.3, and Le Bon Fin (Goodwin) 1:21.8, 1:06.3 and 38.2.

Wisecrack (R Jones), who runs at Dargaville on Friday, was deceptive in his work as he ran the last 1200m in 1:14.5, 1:00.7 and 36.3. Alvesta (J McKay) and Costa La Vida (S McKay) looked comfortable as they cut out 1000m in 1:01.8 and 36.

Equanimity (Cameron) was timed from the 800m in 56.7 and 41, Sworntomylover (K Shailer) ran 1000m in 1:07.2 and 38.2, while Augusta National (Dowling) returned 1:05.2 and 37.8, Funhouse (Sapsworth) took 1:07.2 and 39, and Southern Comet (Tait) ran from the 800m in 50.2 and 35.3.

Quest, ridden by her new trainer Mark Brosnan, strode over 1200m in 1:18.4, 1:02.5 and 36.8. Whosyourmaster (O'Sullivan), who runs next in the Counties Bowl at Avondale, was well held over 1200m in 1:30.5 and 44.4, while Queens Rose (Sapsworth) did similar work in 1:28.3 and 43.4.

On the course proper, which was good 20 metres out, Agent Ziva (A Jones) did sound work over 1200m in 1:17.6, with her last 1000m in 1:02.1 and 600m in 36.6.

Florentina (Tynan) worked on the all-weather track, where she cut out her last 1000m in 1:08.4 and 600m in 37.5. Vitali (Olwagen) was allowed to stretch out over 1000m in 1:04.9 and 36.6.