Tulsa King provided the highlight in a quiet trackwork session at Hastings today, finishing a 1000-metre gallop off strongly.

Fast work was confined to the plough, which provided reasonably good footing considering more than 40 millimetres of rainfall late last week.

Tulsa King finished clear of stablemate Sicarius at the end of 1000m in 1:05.1, the last 600 in 37.7.

Trainer Aaron Bidlake is delighted with the way Tulsa King has come back from a spell. He is hoping to kick the Staphanos three-year-old off in a new campaign in this Saturday’s Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth but the horse is only rated on 67 points and may not get a run.

Last start winner Abeecee worked over 1200m with trainer Caitlin Johnson aboard. She was kept to just three-quarter pace for the fist 600m before quickening slightly over the last 600 in 39.3. The Belardo mare is likely to start next at the Otaki meeting on Saturday week

Prestissimo, a likely runner at Waverley on Friday of next week, had co-trainer Jordan Bassett aboard when working over 800m on her own. She was timed to run he last 600 in 39.8.

Anaroa, who returns to the synthetic track at Awapuni this Friday, worked in at three-quarter pace from the 800m peg and was stretching out well over the last 600 in 40.8.

Yamper and Island Queen, two horses in the Lowry/Zydenbos stable, worked in at three-quarter pace from the 800m peg and were timed to run home the last 600 in 43.9 while a Mongolian Falcon two-year-old gelding trained by Dean Howard ended his work with 600m in 41.2.

Meridivaci was another who worked in at three-quarter pace from the 800m peg and was timed to run home the last 600 in 45.3. He spoilt his chances by racing a bit erratically at Waverley last start and could show improvement on the Awapuni synthetic track this Friday.