Trentham race rivals Cheval De Foudre and The True Believer earned admirers for the task ahead when they galloped together at Awapuni this morning.
Fast work was held on the plough (good) or on the synthetic track.
Cheval De Foudre, trained by Jeff Lynds, and The True Believer (Ashley Meadows) used the plough and were paired over a very satisfactory 1000m in 1.2.6, the last 600 in 36 seconds even.
Both horses have been thereabouts in recent races without paying a dividend, but success looms large in Saturday's Summer Cup (r65 2100m).
Shockiff (by Shocking) and Miss Rosie (by Pins), maidens trained by Mark Oulaghan, ran 1000m in 1.2.6, the last 600 in 36.8, and they are coming to hand well in new campaigns.
Their stablemate Dawn Shadow covered 1000m in 1.5 even, the last 600 in 36.3, while Trentham runner Love Janie (mdn mile 1) took 1.6.1 and 37.1.
Unraced four-year-old mare Mainsail (by Reliable Man) ran 800m in 51.6, the last 600 in 37.8, followed soon after by Hungry (Summer Cup) and Parisian Poppy, who went together in 52.1 and 38.7.
Waitui Rose and a Staphanos maiden were timed 800m in 53.5, the last 600 in 38.8, while Rosemary Fizz and a Sweynesse gelding, both in the Oulaghan stable, clocked 55.6 and 39.3.
Summer Cup entrant Lurid did two quiet rounds, with a 600m dash at the end of each one in 41.3 and 39.6 respectively.
Bradman left 1000m behind in 1.8.2, the last 600 in 40.3, while Pepeha and Raffle sprinted 600m in 40.7. Semper Magico recorded 40.8.
Trentham runners Call A Friend (mdn mile 1) and Donnybrook (r65 mile) were on terms over 800m, the last 600 in 40.1. Giannis (mdn mile 2) posted 42.8.
On the synthetic track, Bryce Newman-trained Sugah Sweet worked boldly over 1000m in 1.4.1, the last 600 in 36.3, and her next start will be in the Wairarapa Breeders' Stakes (1600m) on Waitangi Day.
Her maiden stablemate Altezza, fourth at Wanganui last start, skipped over 800m in 48.8, the last 600 in 36.3, while Hot Dip and unraced three-year-old Craftsman (by Alamosa) went together in 50.4 and 36.4.
Love For All, unplaced at Trentham last start, ran 1000m in 1.5.9, the last 600 in 37.5, and she may start in the Taranaki Cup (1800m) on Saturday week.
Unraced three-year-old filly Gorgeous Grace (by Alamosa) and a Darci Brahma gelding were timed 800m in 50.7, the last 600 in 38.2. Gorgeous Grace is the first foal of former top racemare Heni.
Last week's Foxton trial winner Asahi, resuming in the maiden 1000m at Trentham on Saturday, covered 800m in 53.7, the last 600 in 38.9, and his stablemate Tivaci Princess took 53.6 and 40.7.
A Vespa gelding and a gelding by So You Think, both trained by Mike Breslin, worked over 800m in 58 seconds even, the last 600 in 41.3.
A Vespa mare and an El Roca gelding, two more from that barn, ended with 42.1. Trentham runner Lincoln Falls (r65 mile) was restricted to three-quarter pace.