Fast 1000-metre gallops by Secret Steps and New Orleans Jazz were the highlights at this morning’s Hastings track session.

   Fast work was confined to the plough, which provided reasonably good footing considering the amount of rain that has fallen on the course since the weekend.

Secret Steps only had a light weight up but still did well to cut out a solo 1000m in 1:01.2, the first 400m in 26.1 and the final 600 in 35.1.

The Sacred Falls mare was placed several times last season and is being aimed at the Special Conditions Maiden over 1300m on the second day of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival, on October 1.

New Orleans Jazz, entered for Thursday’s Otaki meeting, also hit out well when running 1000m on his own in 1:01.6, the first 400m in 26.1 and the final 600 in 35.5. He only managed sixth in the Wanganui Guineas (1340m) last start but drops back to maiden company at Otaki.

Call Me Jack, who heads to New Plymouth on Saturday for the 3210m flat race, worked over a round at three-quarter pace, running home the last 600 in 43.4. He only managed to beat two horses home over 2000m at Hastings on Saturday but the extra distance should suit him.

Donardo, a likely candidate for Sunday’s Great Northern Steeplechase, had trainer Lucy de Lautour aboard when sent over four rounds of pacework. He was a gallant fourth in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup Steeples (4800m) at Te Rapa last start.

Matt Cain, who could resume on the third day of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival, worked over 1000m on his own in 1:04.6, the last 600 in 37 while Pipers Fling was timed to run the last 800m of her work in 56.3, the final 600 in 40.6.

Celtic Jazz, another entered for Otaki on Thursday, was another who worked over 1000m and was timed to run the last 800 in 52.9, the final 600 in 39.

Moonlight Hussler had trainer Kate Hercock aboard when running an easy 1000m in 1:09.9, the last 600 in 39.6 while The Mammoth worked over a round and was timed to run home the last 1200m in 1:21.1, the final 600 in 38.7.

Courvoisier looked to be working well at the end of a 1000m in 1:06.2. She picked up a Highly Recommended three-year-old filly inside the last 600m and finished off the last 600 in 36.6.

Herself ended her work with 600m in 40.5 while No Bid and a Mongolian Khan three-year-old gelding ran 600m in 41.8.

A Redwood three-year-old and a Dial A Prayer four-year-old, both trained by Fred Pratt, clocked 38.2s for 600m while a Sweet Orange two-year-old and a Complacent three-year-old from the same stable ran their 600m in 38.6.

A Hellbent three-year-old filly and a Nadeem three-year-old were not hurried when running 800m together, the last 600 in 41 while a Belardo two-year-old and a Rip Van Winkle three-year-old ran an easy 600m in 41.2.