Riccarton Trackwork Highlights

Riccarton Park trackwork highlights - Thursday 20 September -

A thick fog hung heavy on the Riccarton Park course for most of the morning which eliminated the timing of most final hit-outs for Saturday's racing. The big trial grass was again open for fast work with the markers at their widest against the the rail for the plough. The going was again a Good3. The plough was also open.

By 8.15 am when the fog started lifting the late workers mainly came from the Pitman stable and best of them was Shazino (Morganrood) which galloped with Nellie Bly (Morris) on the grass from the 800m in 46.6, getting to the line strongly over the last 600m in 34.0. Shazino looks the part and was carrying considerably more weight than his companion.

Enzo's Lad (Morgan) showed what a clean-winded horse he is when he went solo over 1000m in 1.01.9, the last 600m in 35.7 on the grass at only his third gallop this time in. He looks in great order and was hardly blowing on his way back to the tie-ups. Saturday acceptor Quaintrelle (Shaikh) and Pinup Coup (Lemaitre) also impressed when together on the grass over 1000m they recorded 1.02.1, the last 600m in only 35.2.

The Pitman pair of Odisha (Morgan) and St Regis (Morris) went nicely over 800m together in 48.5, the final 600m in 34.5. Earlier in the session, Sensei (Morgan) and Dynamic (Shaikh) galloped over 1000m but only emerged from the fog in time to be clocked over the final 400m in 23.7 with Sensei a length and a half to the good of his companion. Sensei will be very hard to beat on Saturday on his work these past two weeks.

Miroslava (Shaikh) wasn't keen to gallop at all but once away with stablemate Ride The Storm (Morgan) the pair were timed from the 1000m in 1.02.9 and the final 600m in 35.0 with Ride The Storm doing the better at the finish. Zah Wanted (White) and Eastern Warrior (Laking) were timed from the 600m in 35.9 with the 400m in 23.9

Saber (Morris) galloped alone on the grass from the 1000m in 1.04.0, the last 600m in 35.8. Aquazurra (Lemaitre) and Luna Lady (Shaikh) were slick together over 1000m in 1.02.5, the last 600m taking 36.5. Zakynthos (Morris) went solo from the 1000m in 1.04.6, coming home the last 600m in 35.2. O'Kiwi (Morgan) was alone over 1200m in 1.14.0, the last 600m in 36.3.

The Kennedy-Furlong trained Sentito (Coster) was galloped with an unnamed partner by Rip Van Winkle over 800m in 47.8, the final 600m in 35.7. Also over that trip Mahana recorded sectionals of 51.8 and 38.6. Another on the same itiniery on the grass was Mr Typhon (Morris) which recorded 51.6. Devil's Staircase went 800m in 50.1 and Why Me (Shaikh) went over 600m in 35.3, all on the grass.

Almost all work on the plough was conducted in the fog. Last in the session to go was Patricia Rose (Saejorhor) which did little more than three-quarter pace from the 1000m. Other not timed over 1000m in the fog included Conclusion, Publicist, Quattro Kate, Cardrona, Miss Scandinavia, Remington, Hot Fuss, a Reliable Man, So Sharp, Barabas, Montoya Star, Oceans of Champagne and Laphroaig.

Horses to work on the plough over 800m included Bilbao, Beneficial, Eily Margaret and Abut Me while those sent over 600m included Yippieyioh, Boots ‘N' All, Norma Jean and Exclaim

Early workers in the fog on the grass over 1000m or longer included Shangold, Holfield, Sulcifera, Ahyum, Elfee, Southern Sav, Smiling Assasin and Savason while over 800m or less they included Yamato Nadeshiko, Zurafaa, Let Her Rip Riley, Too Precious, Southern Sniper, Word of Mouth, Challa and Campaign.

Credit - Brian De Lore