Te Akau: Matamata Tuesday Trackwork

Several candidates for the final Group One race of the domestic season, Saturday's Manco Easter Handicap, looked the part when they got through solid work at Matamata this morning.

Galloping 28 metres out on a dead course proper, Viadana (Dowling) impressed when she led Art Beat (K Hillis) to the end of 1200m in 1:18.1, with the last 1000m in 1:04 and 600m in 37.8. Viadana has trained on well from her close second in the Japan Trophy and can take a lead role in this weekend's Ellerslie feature. A decision has yet to be made whether Art Beat, who has taken a lot of benefit from her recent first-up outing, will run in the Easter Handicap.

Japan Trophy winner Our Famous Eve (P Turner) also turned in an eye-catching Easter trial, shading race rival Capone (Hercock) after 1200m in 1:18, 1000m in 1:04.3 and 600m in 37.8. If anything, the Glenn Old-trained mare has improved with her Tauranga race.

Happy Guys had his Easter Handicap jockey Michael Coleman on board when he worked solo, recording 1:23.5 for 1200m, 1:08.2 for the last 1000m and 39.6 for the final section. The former Hong Kong galloper hit the line full of running and looks much improved after his bold fresh-up fourth in the Japan Trophy.

Brave Centaur (Dowling) was another Easter candidate not chasing time but still impressed as he got through 1200m in 1:23.9, 1000m in 1:08.3 and 600 in 40.4. He looks very bright as he seeks his fifth consecutive win on Saturday. Yet another Easter candidate, Choice Bro (Allen), began steadily in his assignment before completing 1200m in 1:20.4, with the last 1000m in 1:05 and the final 600m in a very respectable 37.8.

Whosyourmaster (O'Sullivan), an entry for Ellerslie as well as Friday's Awapuni meeting, impressed when he shaded Awapuni candidate Exabelle (Cameron) at the end of smart work over 1000m in 1:05.6 and 600m in 37.2. Jubilate (Coleman) and Queen's Rose (Sapsworth) worked soundly over 1200m in 1:23.2, quickening for a final 1000m in 1:06.6 and 600m in 38.6.

Mapmaker (Ward) and Surging Wave (Allen) had pace on throughout 1000m in 1:05.7 and 600m in 38.4, The Lion's Rule (C Ormsby) and She's Samashing (Waddell) ran the same trip in 1:06.8 and 38.4, Volcano (R Jones) and Needlly (Dye) took 1:07.4 and 38.7, and Urban Angel (Miller) 1:09.2 and 38.5.

Quest (K Jones), a scratching from Te Aroha due to track conditions, prepared for Ellerslie over 1200m in 1:22.2, 1000m in 1:07.7 and 600m in 39.6. Spitting Image (Waddell) and Arise (Coleman) left 1000m behind in 1:07.3 and 600m in 38.5. Beauty Show (Leveque) and Jahanara (S Wong) shaped up well over 800m in 50.1 and 600m in 37.7.

On the sand, where times were generally moderate, Tactician (P turner) prepared for Awapuni on Friday with 1000m in 1:06.8 and 600m in 37. Android (Sapsworth) and Ididit (Tanaka) prepared for Ellerslie with 1000m in 1:08.3 and 600m in 40.2, while Rose Of Falkirk (M Brosnan) cut out 1200m in 1:19.9, 1000m in 1:05.2 and 600m in 39.

Snow Line (Woollams) and Deecruz (Roff) did well over 1000m in 1:04.9 and 37.6, while Our Essence (Chiong) and Huffer (Sapsworth) did similar work to record 1:04.4 and 37.7. Over the same ground Moneymakehersmile (Roff) and Peteali Rose (M Brosnan) returned 1:07.1 and 38.3, Giovana Bella (Grant) took 1:09 and 39.6, Oraka Prince (J Collett) and Secret Dew (S Collett) 1:09.9 and 40.2, Excuse Me Madam (Rastrick) 1:09.2 and 40.8, Miss Indy (Wright) and Generous Type (J Brosnan) 1:12.3 and 41.9, and Imperial Miss (Cameron) 1:13.6 and 43.2.

Over 1200m The Hotz (Waddell) recorded 1:22.6, with the last 1000m in 1:07 and 600m in 37.8, Sunset Pass (Miller) took 1:29.2, 1:13.7 and 40, and True Light (Dowling) 1:27.2, 1:11.8 and 42.8.

On the wall-weather track, Smartly (Chiong) and Le'Vantos (McNab) prepared for Ellerslie with a solid 1200m in 1:01.8 and 600m in 36.6. Out West (Leveque) and Beauty Ahead (S Wong) were not extended over the same distance in 1:06.3 and 38.8.

CREDIT - DENNIS RYAN