Strong workouts by Hunta Pence and No Rock No Pop were among the highlights at this morning’s Hastings trackwork session.
Fast work was confined to the plough, which provided good footing.
Hunta Pence worked in from the 1200m peg and was timed to run his last 1000m in 1:02.9. He ran the first 400m in 27.6 before coming home strongly over the last 600 in 35.3.
The No Excuse Needed gelding pulled up well after the gallop and looks right on target for Thursday’s Taupo Cup (2000m).
No Rock No Pop worked over 1000m on her own in 1:05.5, running the first 400m in 29 before quickening over the last 600 in 36.5. She also pulled up well after the workout and is entered for the Rating 74 race over 1400m at Hastings on Friday.
Mohaka, another entered for Thursday’s Taupo Cup, ended her work with an easy 600m in 41.2. She finished second in last year’s Taupo Cup and will be looking to go one better this year.
Impressive last start winner Love Letter was not hurried when running the last 600m of her work in 39.1. She has unfortunately drawn the extreme outside barrier in the Rating 65 race over 1200m at Taupo, where in-form jockey Lisa Allpress has been booked to ride her.
Aviator, one of several horses from the Lowry/Cullen stable down to start at Friday’s Hawke’s Bay meeting, was let off with an easy 600m in 41 while stablemate Candle ran over the same ground in 42.4. Aviator looks close to a maiden win after a second and a fourth from two starts.
King Farouk, who is likely to start next at Awapuni on Saturday week, ran a solo 1000m in 1:05.3, the last 600 in 36.2 while his stablemate Bazooka sprinted the last 600m of his work in 37. He is entered for a maiden race at Hastings on Friday.
One Dream One Soul, another whose connections are hoping to get a start with at Hastings on Friday, clocked 53.1 for 800m, the last 600 in 39.8 while a Sweynesse filly in Lee Somervell’s stable ended her work by sprinting the last 400m in 24.8.
Herself clocked 40.8 for an easy 600m while stablemate Darwin ran home the last 600m of her work in 41.8. Herself is another who has unfortunately drawn wide in her maiden race at Taupo on Thursday.
A Keeper three-year-old filly in Fred Pratt’s stable worked very keenly over 1000m in 60.3, the last 600 in 35.9 while a Proisir-Wine And Soda two-year-old filly ran an easy 600m in 46.1.