Stablemates Candle and Poukawa turned in a solid gallop at this morning’s Hastings trackwork session as they prepare for next Monday’s Otaki meeting.

Fast work was confined to the plough, which provided good footing.

There was a lack of horses at the session, with several Hastings trainers having taken teams to the Foxton trials.

Candle and Poukawa worked together over 800m in 50.5, coming home the last 600 strongly in 36.9 with both horses striding out well at the finish.

Candle has been freshened since her last start fifth in a strong Rating 75 race over 1200m at Trentham on March 2 and will contest the Rating 75 race over the same distance at Otaki. Michael McNab has been booked to ride her.

Poukawa looks improved by his two runs this time in, the most recent being a fourth over 1600m at Wanganui. He will run over the same distance at Otaki with Jonathan Riddell to ride.

Gohugo was another to gallop this morning and he ran a solo 800m in 50.9, the last 600 in 37.4. He ruined his chances by over-racing at Wanganui last start and will race next at Awapuni on Anzac Day.

Meltemi had co-trainer Jordan Bassett aboard when running two 400-metre gallops, the first in 28.9 and the second in 28.2. She has been runner-up in two of her three starts at 1200m.

Porters Way was not hurried when running 600m in 39.9 while Huia and a Time Test-Maggie Grey two-year-old colt were kept to just three-quarter pace when running 600m in 43.4.