Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Surpass prepared for Saturday's Herbie Dyke Stakes with an impressive gallop at Matamata this morning.

Working 25 metres out on the course proper, where the going was dead, Surpass was ridden by co-trainer Chad Ormsby as he went over ground in company with fellow Te Rapa entry That's How We Roll (Coleman). The pair had momentum up for the last 1200m, running that distance in 1:18.4, 1000m in 1:04.9 and the final 600m in 38.5.

Surpass will be stepping into unknown territory in Saturday's weight-for-age feature, but with a Waikato Gold Cup win on the track in December to his credit, he must rate some chance. Opie Bosson will continue his association on the Savabeel gelding, who is under consideration for the Auckland Cup.

Pussy O'Reilly (K Jones) looked ready for a bold effort in the NRM Sprint when she worked solo against the rail in the eight-metre position. She returned 1:15.3 for 1200m, quickening as she went to cut out the last 1000m in 1:01.1 and the final 600m in a smart 35.6. Noel Harris has been booked for Saturday's big sprint.

Back between the markers out wide, the Moroney-Ormsby pair Spitfire Lady (McNab) and The Last Shower (C Ormsby) prepared for Friday's Wairarapa Breeders' Stakes with 1200m in 1:20.7, 1:05.1 and 37.8, a sound effort late in the session.

Irish Encore (Wong) and Stella's Honour (C Ormsby) looked sharp for the weekend as they cut out 1000m in 1:06.4 and 37.6.

Spellbinder (Hercock) and Angelica Hall (Lammas) also did well in their work over 1200m in 1:21.4, 1:05.8 and 37.7, while Te Rapa two-year-old candidate Starstripe (McNab) and Unknown Pleasures (C Ormsby) completed 1000m in 1:08.3 and 37.5.

Perfect Fit (Coleman) and Aura d'Oro (K Jones) were not after time as they prepared for Sunday's local meeting with 1000m in 1:10.8 and 40.2. Perfect Fit has trained on pleasingly since her impressive Taupo debut win. Stablemate Aotearower (K Jones), who runs in the special maiden at Te Rapa, strode over 1200m in 1:27.3, 1:10.7 and 39.8.

Element (McNab) a Stravinsky two-year-old in the Shailer stable with wins in his two trials, went with Saraswati (Tynan) over 1000m in 1:06.8 and 39.2. Elusive Unicorn (Leveque) and Little Miss Waitoki (Dowling) ran the same trip in 1:07.9 and 38.8, Alchemy's Flight (Miller) took 1:11 and 40.2, and Lucky To Be Cool (Sapsworth) and Los Vargos (Rhodes) 1:06.4 and 38.8.

Sonsy (Lammas) prepared for the Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic in company with Bronte Lass, cutting out a sound 1200m in 1:19.4, 1:05.2 and 38. Green Easy (Sapsworth) was unextended as he covered the same ground in 1:20.5, 1:06.6 and 39.3, while Giardini (Hong) took 1:22.6, 1:08.4 and 39.5.

Northern Star (R Jones) completed 1000m in 1:09.5 and 41.6, while Living The Dream (Sapsworth) strode over 1200m in 1:25, 1:09.5 and 39.5. Realta (Leveque) and Morena (Dowling) covered 1200m in 1:20.2, 1:06.4 and 39. Rockfast (Miller), who runs next in the Avondale Guineas, was allowed striding work, with the last 1200m in 1:34.5 and 600m in 45.8.

On the all-weather track Perfect Start (Hillis) looked bright as she ran the last 1000m of her work 1:05.2 and 600m in 37.2. She runs next in the Avondale Cup on the way to the Auckland Cup.

Stablemates Rough Copy (Hillis) and an Elusive City gelding (Hunt) were timed over their last 800m in 50.2 and 36.6. In A Frenzy (Tynan) was kept to 1:11 and 41.3 over 1000m, while Woodsman (Gillies) had more pace on as he returned 1:06.8 and 39.6.

On the sand I'll'ava'alf  (A Jones) covered the last 1000m of his work in 1:08.4 and 40.4, O'Reilly's Gold (P Brosnan) took 1:05 and 38.2, and Hayley Anne (Coleman) covered 1200m in 1:18.3, 1:05.1 and 39.8. Settarossa (J Collett) and Light Up A Screen (S Collett) were restricted to 1:13.5 and 41.8 over 1000m.

Credit - Dennis Ryan