AWAPUNI TRACKWORK
Akela Belle looked on song for the Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham on Saturday when she galloped in fine style at Awapuni this morning.
Fast work was held on the No 1 grass (holding) and on the plough (good).
Akela Belle used the No 1 grass and had maiden stablemate Little Uzi for a partner when warming up from the 1000m to run 800m in 50.5, the last 600 in 37.6.
Akela Belle, who won over 2100 metres on a heavy 11 at Trentham two starts ago, got too far back at Hastings last time out in a race won by free-going front-runner Big Mike.
She is ready to make amends, while Little Uzi (r65 1400m) earned plenty of admirers as well.
Showshanelle, who was entered for both Wanganui and Trentham, did her best work for some time when cutting out 800m in 50 seconds even, the last 600 in 37.7.
Her stablemate Derecho, in the maiden highweight (2060m) at Wanganui came up with 50.7 and 38.2.
Far Site, renowned for his strong work, was at a fast clip early over 1000m in 1.1.8, the last 600 in 38.4, but he was disappointing at Tauranga last start. It would not surprise if he produced a form reversal in the Whyte Handicap at Trentham.
Antipodes and Friday, both trained by Ashley Meadows, were paired over 1000m in 1.7.7, the last 600 in 38.8. They race at Wanganui.
Venato covered 800m in 51.3, the last 600 in 39 even, while his stablemate Durham Lad recorded 53.3 and 39.9. Both horses are in solid form for trainer Matthew Eales.
Tweedledee, off to Wanganui (r74 2060m), gathered speed from the 1200m to run 1000m in 1.9 even, the last 600 in 40.3, and his stablemate Master Fin, in Wellington Hurdles contention, did a quiet round before speeding up on the second circuit to run 1000m in 1.10.2 and 40.4.
Night Roca (by El Roca), who debuts in the two-year-old event at Wanganui, was kept to 600m in 44.2.
On the plough, Sybarite and Chillax 'n' Chase were on terms throughout a solid 1000m in 1.5.7, the last 600 in 36.9. These two could be surprise packages any tick of the clock, just like their stablemate Jugador last Saturday.
Wanganui runners Dal Kilchoan (r65 hwt 1600m) and Super Spirit (mdn hwt 2060m) matched strides over 1000m in 1.7.1, the last 600 in 39.3, while Kapinos and a Tivaci two-year-old stablemate sprinted 600m in 39.4.
Wakari (by Vespa), a winner at his last start in November, and Stormcast (by Iffraaj) sprinted 600m in 41.6. Stormcast finished third back in the spring at his only start so far.
Their stablemates Bradman and Reign It In (by Sacred Falls) took 41.9, and Son Of Thunder was kept to 44.5.