Stablemates Candle and The Stoney One, who are likely race-rivals at Trentham on Saturday, worked strongly together at this morning’s Hastings trackwork session.
There was fast work wide out on the course proper as well as the No.1 grass and plough, with all tracks providing heavy footing after 16 millimetres of rainfall since Monday afternoon.
Candle and The Stoney One worked over 800m on the course proper in 51.6, coming home the last 600 in an excellent 36.4 and both horses were striding out well at the finish.
Trainer Guy Lowry says he is reluctant to clash the two horses on race day but, with few other options, he has entered both for the Rating 75 race over 1200m at Trentham this Saturday. Candle was an unlucky sixth over 1200m on the last day of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival while The Stoney One has been kept fresh since winning over the same distance at Hastings on September 30.
Epairama, another from the Lowry stable, finished well clear of Bahia Emerald at the end of 1000m on the course proper in 1:05.1, the first 400m taking 28.3 and the last 600 in 36.8.
Pep Torque and Karehana Bay, two others headed to Trentham on Saturday, worked well together over 1000m on the course proper in 1:03.6, the last 600 in 35.6. Pep Torque will endeavour to record back-to-back wins in the Feilding Cup (2100m), with apprentice Jim Chung to ride. Karehana Bay will contest the Rating 65 race over 1400m.
Duncan Creek worked with Mr Bully Tee over 1000m on the course proper in 1:06.5, the last 600 in 36.8 and both horses didn’t appear to relish the heavy track conditions.
Trainer Patrick Campbell is in two minds whether to run Duncan Creek in the Rating 75 race over 1600m or in the Open 1400m race at Trentham on Saturday.
Mr Bully Tee will have a trial at Woodville next Monday to help prepare him for a Rating 65 race over 1600m at Hastings on November 19.
Fancy Like Lass, who contests the Rating 65 race over 1100m at Trentham on Saturday, had race day rider Kate Hercock aboard when running an easy 600m on the course proper in 38.9. She was a fast finishing second over 1100m at Taupo last start.
Makkaldee clocked 51.8 for a solo 800m on the No.1 grass, the last 600 in 37 while One Dream One Soul ended her work on the same track with an easy 600m in 39.9. She heads to Thursday’s Wanganui meeting for a Rating 75 race over 2060m.
Sid’s Mate sprinted his last 600m on the No.1 grass in 37.8 while a Sweet Orange three-year-old and an Unusual Suspect four-year-old clocked 53.5 for 800m on the plough, the last 600 in 39.2.
Last start winner Ravenna Rose ran 1000m on the plough in 1:11.4, the last 600 in 41.2 while Fun Test and Paradis worked in at three-quarter pace from the 800m peg on the same track and quickened slightly over the last 600 in 40.9.