Zaravela, preparing for the Tauherenikau meeting on January 2, worked strongly at this morning’s Hastings trackwork session.
Fast work was confined to the plough, which provided firm footing.
Zaravela started several lengths behind stablemate Wish Me Well when they left the 1200m peg but they were together at the finish, with Zaravela striding out well over the last 600m in 38.5.
Wish Me Well clocked 1:25.7 for the 1200m, the last 600 in 39.4.
Zaravela looks close to a maiden win after finishing a close second over 1600m at Tauherenikau on December 11 while Wish Me Well probably found the track a bit too firm at Tauherenikau that day and could start next at Otaki on January 6.
Sol De Otono and Hello Hero were others who hit out well in training this morning. They worked in from the 1000m peg in 1:13.3, running he first 400m in an easy 35.3 before quickening over the last 600 in 38.
Hello Hero is a three-year-old by Australian sire Heroic Valour who had one start last season and is likely to have a run at the Levin jumpouts on January 7 before he resumes racing.
Prestissimo was let off with an easy 1000m in 1:10.5, the last 600 in 41. The Time Test filly has been freshened since contesting the O’Learys Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui at the end of November and is likely to start next at Trentham on January 4.
Wild Time ran a solo 1000m in 1:07.9, the last 600 in 39.4 and could make a race debut at Taupo this Monday while another Taupo entrant, Nozumi, was let off with an easy 1000m in 1:14.5, the last 600 in 41.9.
A Time Test-Flare two-year-old filly and a Time Test-Pearls two-year-old gelding, both in the Lowry/Zydenbos stable, worked in from the 600m peg in 40.3 and were let quicken over the last 400m in 26s. The filly out of Flare is a half-sister to the capable galloper Candle.
Pepperoni and Super Makuto, two others in the Lowry/Zydenbos stable, clocked 55.6 for an easy 800m, the last 600 in 40.5 while Exit Left took 1:11.9 for an easy 1000m, the last 600 in 40.9.
Leverne and Uncle Ken ended their work with an easy 600m in 43.8 while Queen Yvaine worked over 1000m at three-quarter pace, the last 600 in 44.9.