Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Peregrine and Ireland’s Teardrop shaped as likely improvers when they were paired in smart work at Matamata this morning.

Galloping on the all-weather track, Peregrine (Grylls) and Ireland’s Teardrop (Dowling) strode over 1200m in 1:19.4, with their last 1000m in 1:04.8 and 600m in 37.5. Both horses were disappointing at their most recent starts but their work suggested improvement is quite possible. Peregrine runs at Avondale on Friday, while Ireland’s Teardrop will go to Ruakaka on Saturday.

Two members of the McKay stable to draw attention to their Ruakaka prospects were Amarula and Brigadier. Amarula (S McKay), who is sitting on a hat-trick of Ruakaka two-year-old wins, went with Valante (P McKay) over 1000m in 1:03.6 and 600m in 37.3. Brigadier (S McKay) worked in good style with Puccini (P McKay) over the same ground in 1:03.8 and 36.3.

Brigadier, the half-brother to top filly Platinum Witness, is capable of improving on his recent efforts, while Puccini will also head north for a hitout in the star-studded pre-race trial.

Others to work on the all-weather track included Brown Girl (Rafi) and Lauberhorn (Singh) were timed over 800m in 58.6 and 40.4.

On the sand, where times were not as fast, class sprinters In Style (N Waddell) and Tomorrowland (Grylls) enjoyed their work over 1000mm in 1:08.6 and 600m in 37.6. The Danica Guy-trained pair are coming to hand well.

Whosyourmaster (Hong) was another past season star to catch the eye as he ran home over his last 800m in 53.7 and 600m in 39.6. Arcade (S Collett) was given striding work over 1200m in 1:27.4, 1000m in 1:10.6 and 600m in 41.2. Over the same ground Landed Gentry (Grylls) and Prize Lad (Amrut) were restricted to 1:29.4 and 44.2.

Southern Icon (Tait), who has been freshened since his runaway Te Rapa win earlier this moth, showed his usual dash over 800m in 48.8 and 600m in 36.2. In more contained work over the same ground Lord Royals (C Ormsby) returned 56.2 and 39.6, Carmenize (Lammas) 58.3 and 43.4, Sequitur (Lammas) 58.5 and 43.2, and Starstripe (C Ormsby) 59.6 and 41.8.

Trigger (Clements) and Superman (N Waddell) hit the line well at the end of 1000m in 1:10.3 and 39.8, while Massofdash (S Collett) ended striding work with 600m in 45.2.

Limited right-handed work took place on the course proper, which was heavy 22 metres out. Ruakaka candidate Witz End was ridden by his trainer Jim Collett over 1000m in 1:11.8 and 600m in 41.6.

Zadefra (Grylls) wasn’t happy in the conditions when cutting out 1000m in 1:12.8 and 600m in 42. Niamh Elizabeth (Hercock) and Risque (Lammas) were timed over the last 600m of their work in 41.3.

Credit - Dennis Ryan