Duncan Creek, a likely starter at Tauherenikau on Saturday, turned in a strong solo gallop at this morning’s Hastings trackwork session.
Fast work was confined to the plough, which was conducive to good times after steady overnight rain.
Duncan Creek worked in from the 1200m peg in 1:17.4, running the first 600m in an easy 41.1 before sprinting home strongly over the last 600 in 36.3.
The Super Easy six-year-old has been unplaced in three starts this season but could be starting to reach peak fitness again and will contest a Rating 75 race over 1600m at Tauherenikau.
Bedtime Story and Poukawa, two horses from the Lowry/Zydenbos stable entered for Tauherenikau, worked early in the session. They galloped 1000m together and, although poor light prevented a time being taken, they were both stretching out strongly at the finish. Bedtime Story will contest the Open 1400m race with Kelly Myers booked to ride her while Poukawa will resume from a lengthy spell in the Rating 65 race over 1400m.
Say I Do was another who turned in a good solo gallop, clocking 51.9 for 800m, the last 600 in 36.5. Trainer Patrick Campbell has the Pierro mare looking in good order but is finding it hard to find a suitable race for her.
Sunshine Ale, who will probably contest the Rating 65 race over 1300m at Woodville on Sunday, worked on her own over 1000m in 1:07.5, the last 600 in 38.4. The Telperion mare looks to have strengthened a lot from last season.
Flying Angel, another from the Patrick Campbell stable, clocked 1:05.1 for a solo 1000m, the last 600 in 36.5 and also looked to be hitting out well at the finish.
Mount Cook worked early in the session and was kept under a hold when running 800m, the last 600 in 43 while his stablemate Media Puppet worked in at three-quarter pace from the 1000m peg and quickened slightly over the last 600 in 39.9.
Ocean Beau was another who was not pressured when running 1000m in 1:10.4, the last 600 in 40.2 while stablemates Vaporize and Portersway were kept to just three-quarter pace over 1000m, the last 600 in 42.7.