Pablo Esk, an unlucky fourth at the last Hawke’s Bay meeting, indicated he could be hard to beat on the same track this Saturday with a strong solo gallop at this morning’s Hastings track session.
Fast work was confined to the plough, which provided good footing.
A penetrometer reading was taken on the course proper during the session and came up as a good-3, with irrigation planned for later in the day.
Pablo Esk worked in from the 1200m peg and was timed to run the last 1000m in 1:05.2, stretching out nicely over the final 600 in 37.7. The Alamosa four-year-old will step up in distance to 1600m in a Rating 74 race on Saturday.
Red ‘N’ Surf was another who impressed this morning when he finished clear of an Iffraaj four-year-old mare at the end of 800m in 52.8, the last 600 in a quick 35.6s.
Red ‘N’ Surf turned in another creditable performance for sixth over 2500m at Hastings a couple of weeks ago and will start next at the Woodville meeting on May 9.
Shezzacatch, preparing for Saturday’s Group 3 Cambridge Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa, worked on her own over 1000m in 1:07.5, the last 600 in 38.7. She was impressive when winning a jumpout at Hastings last week and should be very competitive in Saturday’s three-year-old feature. In-form jockey Craig Grylls will again have the mount.
Spydapus sprinted 600m on her own in 37.3s while Veloce Sorella and a Super Easy gelding, both in Vicki Wilson’s stable, worked together over 600m in 36.8s.
My Tommy worked on his own over 1000m in 1:03.3, the last 600 in 36.5 while One Prize One Goal ran over the same ground in 1:08.5, the last 600 in 39.8. He will line up in the Rating 65 race over 1600m at Hastings on Saturday.
Estefania was one of the first horses to work and was timed to run an easy 1000m in 1:15.7, the last 600 in 42 while stablemate Free Thyme ran over the same distance and came home the last 600 in 43.2s.
Serengeti also worked in from the 1000m peg in bad light and was timed to run home the last 600 in 42.8.
Hunta Pence and Overstayer were among several horses restricted to just two rounds of pacework. Both horses had planned final gallops on Wednesday as they prepare for Saturday’s Hawke’s Bay meeting.