Timberlake and stablemate Canucia took the eye in light work at Awapuni this morning.

Fast work during a quiet gallop session was on the outside of the soft course proper or on the new synthetic track.

Timberlake and Canucia used the course proper and were paired over 800m in 58.7, the last 600 in 42.7, and they could have gone quicker.

Timberlake, second in the Whyte Handicap at Trentham last start, has been marking time in the wings after a minor setback, which saw him miss a tilt on the Winter Cup at Riccarton.

Canucia will be a big improver from her resuming fifth placing at Woodville last Friday.

Last-start winner Cholula and Albufeira covered 800m in 58.1, the last 600 in 43.2, and Tweedledee was kept to 1000m in 1.20.9, the last 600 in 46.1.

On the synthetic track, an Alamosa gelding and a Zed gelding, both trained by Mike Breslin, gathered speed from the 1000m (1.10.8) to run home the last 600 in 37.3.

British Royalty (by Vespa), who has not raced since January, did 600m in a quiet 45.8, while a gelding by Almanzor and a filly by Sidestep, both trained by Peter Didham, went together in 45.1.