Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Love Triangle underlined her fitness for Hastings on Saturday when she galloped stylishly at Matamata this morning.  

Working right-handed on the course proper, where the going was slow 22 metres out, Love Triangle (Cameron) was paired with Ekraarstatic (Hercock) over 1200m. They covered the full distance in 1:23.5 and the final 600m in a respectable 38.9.

Love Triangle, who is unbeaten in competition with two trial wins preceding her successful Ruakaka debut, is in good order for the step up to stakes company in Saturday's Gold Trail Stakes. Ekraarstatic, who showed real staying promise last season, begins a new campaign over 1400 metres on the weekend.

Puccini (P McKay) prepared for the Windsor Park Plate when he and Queen Of Navarre (S McKay) worked left-handed against the rail in the 12-metre position, where they cut out their last 1000m in 1:05.3 and 600m in 37.7.

Puccini has trained on well from his first-up run in the Makfi Challenge Stakes and will enjoy the step up in distance on Saturday. Queen Of Navarre runs at Taupo on Friday.

Taupo maiden candidate Interstellar (Lammas) and Babilloni (Zac-Sayed) worked right-handed over 1200m in 1:27.2, quickening over the last 600m in 39.7. In similar work Saoirse (Coleman) returned 1:29.4 and 38.9, while Packing Chaparral (Coleman) strode over 1200m in 1:23.5 and 39.2.

Graphic (C Ormsby) and You Are Amazing (E Rika) worked away steadily and built up momentum to complete their last 600m in 41.2. While the reduction in distance from 1600 to 1400 metres is not ideal, Graphic will still run in Saturday's Westbury Stud Classic at Avondale.

Silver Eclipse (Ramsay) and Skywards (Ritchie) did similar work, cutting out their final 600m in 40.1. Silver Eclipse is a possible runner at Hastings, while Skywards resumes at Taupo. Eletist (S McKay) and Graft (Mathewson) ran their last 600m in 40.4, and De Chine (Grylls) and Miss Drama (Rastrick) 39.8.

Snapshot (Grylls) and Funhouse (Sapsworth) did sound work in preparation for Taupo when striding over 1200m in 1:23.9 and 600m in 39.2. Stablemates Dubai Shuffle (Sapsworth) and Storm Bro (Tynan) ran the same trip in 1:22.8 and 39.8, while Stella's Honour (C Ormsby) and Flavigny (E Rika) returned 1:32.4 and 38.5 and Skyscraper (Lammas) 1:25.8 and 41.8.

On the sand last start winner Only If (S Collett) and promising maiden Ultimata (Weatherley) looked the part when they cut out 1000m in 1L01.2 and 36. Only If runs at Avondale and her stablemate at Taupo.

In Style (N Waddell), who resumes at Hastings, completed her work with a strong 600m in 38.5. Race rival Emerald Queen (A Jones) caught the eye with 1000m in 1:03.8 and 35.7. The Canterbury visitor will be ridden by Vinnie Colgan in the Hastings sprint.

Thornhill (N Waddell) and Galaxy Miss (Grylls) worked away steadily to cover 1000m in 1:06 and quickened over the final section in 36.6. Suffire (O'Sullivan) and Quintastics (Amit) worked well over 1000m in 1:03.1 and 36.7, as did Panella (Coleman) and Maestro Tom (Conder) when returning 1:03 and 36.2.

In-form Hastings runner Southern Icon (Tait) reeled off 800m in 48.7 and 600m in 36.2, while Rose Sauvage (A Jones) and Iffitell (Grylls) left 1000m behind in 1:06.4 and 36.5. Nikoniko (J Collett) and Sunset Girl (Blair) ran the same trip in 1:03.6 and 37 and Landed Gentry (Grylls) and Jane's Secret (Hepi) took 1:03 and 36.8.

Others to complete 1000m gallops included Nolawood (M Brosnan) in 1:06.2 and 38.7; Spritz (Cameron) 1:12.5 and 39; Da Shindig (R Jones) 1:07.6 and 37.8.

On the all-weather track Pussy O'Reilly (Weatherley) ran a smart trial for the Hastings sprint over 1000mm in 1:00.8 and her final 600m in 35.4. Possible rival Irish Heartbeat (Coleman) and a Savabeel gelding (S McKay) ran the same distance in 1:03.8 and 37.

Pushtheboundaries (Dowling) and Bachro (Fraser-Hayes) ran a tidy trial over 1000m in 1:04.4 and 38.5. Sultry Assassin (Sapsworth) ran in from the 800m in 48.3 and 35.1, while Jubilate (Sapsworth) and Solo (Tynan) did similar work in 53.2 and 38.5.

Credit - Dennis Ryan