Estefania, a likely runner at Trentham on Saturday, hit out well in the wet and slushy track conditions at this morning’s Hastings track session.
Fast work was mainly confined to the plough, which was heavy after more than 10 millimetres of rainfall in the previous 24 hours.
Estefania worked very early in the session and was timed to run a solo 1000m in 1:09.7. Bad light prevented any sectional times being taken but the Darci Brahma mare looked to be stretching out well at the finish.
She found the racing surface a bit too good for her at Hastings last start but should strike conditions to suit at Trentham where she is entered for the Rating 65 race over 1400m.
Zakra, down to make his race debut in the maiden 1360m race at today’s Wanganui meeting, was the only horse timed on the heavy No.1 grass where he ran an easy 600m in 43.3. He is a three-year-old gelding by Ekraar trained by Fred Pratt.
Lady Vadamos, who is being prepared for the maiden two-year-old event over 1200m at Hastings next Thursday, worked well on her own over 800m on the plough in 54.7, the last 600 in 39.6. She ruined her chances by being slow away and then racing erratically on the Cambridge synthetic track last start but should be improved by the run.
Briar was not hurried when running a solo 1000m in 1:14.1, the last 600 in 42.89. She showed a marked improvement in form when second over 1400m at Rotorua last week where she appeared to cope well with the heavy-11 track conditions.
Wewillrock was keen to go faster when running an easy 800m in 55.1, the last 600 in 41.9. He looks to be coming up will again in a new preparation and is likely to have a jumpout at Hastings next week.
Countess Conti worked in from the 1200m peg on the plough and was timed to run the last 1000m in 1:12.1 and final 600 in 44.1. She won a trial at Otaki last month but disappointed when tried on the Cambridge synthetic track last start.
Freebee and a Fastnet Rock gelding worked together over 600m in 41.5 while a Tivarci-Golden Gamble two-year-old gelding in the Lowry/Cullen stable was restricted to just three-quarter pace over 600m.