Several candidates for the final Group One race of the domestic season, Saturday’s Manco Easter Handicap, looked the part when they got through solid work at Matamata this morning.
 
Galloping 28 metres out on a dead course proper, Viadana (Dowling) impressed when she led Art Beat (K Hillis) to the end of 1200m in 1:18.1, with the last 1000m in 1:04 and 600m in 37.8. Viadana has trained on well from her close second in the Japan Trophy and can take a lead role in this weekend’s Ellerslie feature. A decision has yet to be made whether Art Beat, who has taken a lot of benefit from her recent first-up outing, will run in the Easter Handicap.
 
Japan Trophy winner Our Famous Eve (P Turner) also turned in an eye-catching Easter trial, shading race rival Capone (Hercock) after 1200m in 1:18, 1000m in 1:04.3 and 600m in 37.8. If anything, the Glenn Old-trained mare has improved with her Tauranga race.  
 
Happy Guys had his Easter Handicap jockey Michael Coleman on board when he worked solo, recording 1:23.5 for 1200m, 1:08.2 for the last 1000m and 39.6 for the final section. The former Hong Kong galloper hit the line full of running and looks much improved after his bold fresh-up fourth in the Japan Trophy.
 
Brave Centaur (Dowling) was another Easter candidate not chasing time but still impressed as he got through 1200m in 1:23.9, 1000m in 1:08.3 and 600 in 40.4. He looks very bright as he seeks his fifth consecutive win on Saturday. Yet another Easter candidate, Choice Bro (Allen), began steadily in his assignment before completing 1200m in 1:20.4, with the last 1000m in 1:05 and the final 600m in a very respectable 37.8.
 
Whosyourmaster (O’Sullivan), an entry for Ellerslie as well as Friday’s Awapuni meeting, impressed when he shaded Awapuni candidate Exabelle (Cameron) at the end of smart work over 1000m in 1:05.6 and 600m in 37.2. Jubilate (Coleman) and Queen’s Rose (Sapsworth) worked soundly over 1200m in 1:23.2, quickening for a final 1000m in 1:06.6 and 600m in 38.6.
 
Mapmaker (Ward) and Surging Wave (Allen) had pace on throughout 1000m in 1:05.7 and 600m in 38.4, The Lion’s Rule (C Ormsby) and She’s Samashing (Waddell) ran the same trip in 1:06.8 and 38.4, Volcano (R Jones) and Needlly (Dye) took 1:07.4 and 38.7, and Urban Angel (Miller) 1:09.2 and 38.5.
 
Quest (K Jones), a scratching from Te Aroha due to track conditions, prepared for Ellerslie over 1200m in 1:22.2, 1000m in 1:07.7 and 600m in 39.6. Spitting Image (Waddell) and Arise (Coleman) left 1000m behind in 1:07.3 and 600m in 38.5. Beauty Show (Leveque) and Jahanara (S Wong) shaped up well over 800m in 50.1 and 600m in 37.7.
 
On the sand, where times were generally moderate, Tactician (P turner) prepared for Awapuni on Friday with 1000m in 1:06.8 and 600m in 37. Android (Sapsworth) and Ididit (Tanaka) prepared for Ellerslie with 1000m in 1:08.3 and 600m in 40.2, while Rose Of Falkirk (M Brosnan) cut out 1200m in 1:19.9, 1000m in 1:05.2 and 600m in 39.
 
Snow Line (Woollams) and Deecruz (Roff) did well over 1000m in 1:04.9 and 37.6, while Our Essence (Chiong) and Huffer (Sapsworth) did similar work to record 1:04.4 and 37.7. Over the same ground Moneymakehersmile (Roff) and Peteali Rose (M Brosnan) returned 1:07.1 and 38.3, Giovana Bella (Grant) took 1:09 and 39.6, Oraka Prince (J Collett) and Secret Dew (S Collett) 1:09.9 and 40.2, Excuse Me Madam (Rastrick) 1:09.2 and 40.8, Miss Indy (Wright) and Generous Type (J Brosnan) 1:12.3 and 41.9, and Imperial Miss (Cameron) 1:13.6 and 43.2.
 
Over 1200m The Hotz (Waddell) recorded 1:22.6, with the last 1000m in 1:07 and 600m in 37.8, Sunset Pass (Miller) took 1:29.2, 1:13.7 and 40, and True Light (Dowling) 1:27.2, 1:11.8 and 42.8.
 
On the wall-weather track, Smartly (Chiong) and Le’Vantos (McNab) prepared for Ellerslie with a solid 1200m in 1:01.8 and 600m in 36.6. Out West (Leveque) and Beauty Ahead (S Wong) were not extended over the same distance in 1:06.3 and 38.8.

 

Huffer underlined her fitness for Hastings on Saturday with an impressive gallop at Matamata this morning.
 
Galloping 16 metres out on the course proper, which cut out after heavy overnight rain, Huffer (Sapsworth) did well late in the session to cover 1000m with Dynamite Girl (Chiong) in 1:06.4 and 600m in 38.3. Huffer has been freshened and looks very bright for her autumn campaign, beginning with the open sprint at Hastings.
 
Ready Steady (P Turner) drew attention to her weekend prospects at Tauranga when she cut out 1000m in 1:05.9, the final 600m in 37.6. She managed the conditions well and could be an improver from her recent fresh-up fifth.
 
Hawke’s Bay Cup candidate Better Together (Gillies) and Tauranga entry Revelator (Waddell) got through 1200m in 1:20.2, 1000m in 1:07.2 and 600m in 40.6. Ten Belles (Campbell), who runs in the open 1400 at Tauranga, worked well with first use of the track over 1000m in 1:07.9 and 600m in 38.4.
 
Payday (W Hillis) and Perfect Start (K Hillis) prepared for Hastings with 1000m in 1:07.2 and 600m in 38.7. Oraka Prince (J Collett), who runs at Dargaville on Friday, appeared at home in the ground when he ran 1200m in 1:20.4, with his last 1000m in 1:05.8 and 600m in 38.5.
 
Class mare Xanadu (K Jones) was kept up to the mark for her pending Sydney trip with striding work over 1200m in 1:32.8 and 600m in 47.2 She appears to have come through her big Te Aroha win in bright order.
 
Mosh Pit (Sapsworth) and Ididit (Chiong) got through sound work together over 1200m in 1:21.5, with the last 1000m in 1:07 and 600m in 38.7. Over the same ground Pachenko (P Turner) returned 1:22.2, 1:07.9 and 39.4, Nicole Amy (M Brosnan) took 1:19.5, 1:06 and 40.2, and Mapmaker (Ward) 1:31.5 and 42.9. Domestic Goddess (Waddell) was not extended over 1000m in 1:10.6 and 600m in 39.7.
 
On the all-weather track Le Bon Fin (R Jones) caught the eye with a solid 1200m in 1:14.8, 1000m in 1:01.6 and 600m in 36.2. Goldie (R Jones) and Lady Ruby (Goodwin) cut out 1000m in 1:03.6, the final 600m in 37.4.
 
Te Aroha visitors Mums Apparition (Archer) and Uncle Sugar (Smith) began steadily to cover 1000m in 1:06.8 and finished off with 600m in 36.8, with Mums Apparition showing out at the line. Arnold (Wratten) was restricted to three-quarter-pace over 800m in 1:00.4 and 600m in 44.5.
 
On the sand, which was loose, Society Rose (P Turner) and Cool Genie (Retter) were timed from the 800m in 56.2, with their final 600m in 39.8. He’s Myn (J Brosnan) and Ballypiper (P Brosnan) returned 1:15.3 for 1000m, quickening from the 600m in 39.2.
 

A large contingent of mares bound for Saturday’s Listed Rotorua Stakes were the centre of attention at Matamata this morning.
 
With work 25 metres out on a heavy course proper, gauging individual work was not easy, but the Graham Richardson-trained duo of Mosh Pit (Sapsworth) and Ididit (Chiong) certainly caught the eye. After setting off from the 1200-metre mark at a solid clip, they completed the distance in 1:21.9, with the last 1000m in 1:08.1 and the final 600m in 39.9. Late in the session it was smart work for the 1400-metre Rotorua feature.
 
Stablemate and race rival Huffer (Sapsworth) also looked the part when she and last start maiden winner Living The Dream (Chiong) did similar work, recording 1:21.6, 1:08.2 and 40.9. Huffer has trained on well from her recent Te Rapa win.
 
Ten Belles (Coleman), who will be chasing a hat-trick at Rotorua, went solo over 1200m in 1:20.5, with the last 1000m in 1:06.4 and 600m in 40.6. Art Beat (W Hillis) worked over ground, cutting out 1200m in 1:21.2 and after picking up Smartly (K Hillis), clocked 1:07.3 and 40.6 for the final sections. A return to her favourite heavy track conditions is all that Art Beat needs to reproduce her best.
 
Thrive (Cameron), yet another for the Rotorua Stakes, went with Agent Ziva (P Turner) over 1200m. The pair were keen in the early stages, with the full distance taking 1:20.2, the last 1000m in 1:05.7 and 600m in 40.7. Thrive looks in good order for the weekend, while Agent Ziva will be one to watch in the R75 grade at Rotorua.
 
Ready Steady (O’Sullivan) was kept to three-quarter-pace over 1000m in 1:15.6 and 600m in 44.2 as she prepared for the Rotorua Stakes. Before her weekend assignment she will be offered in the racehorse section of the Karaka Mixed Bloodstock Sale on Thursday.
 
Excuse Me Madam (P Turner) looked in good order for Rotorua when she cut out 1000m in 1:05.7 and 600m in 38.7, smart time in the conditions. Over the same ground Gospel (C Ormsby) and Short Tale (Grant) clocked 1:07.8 and 38.8 as they prepared for Saturday’s New Plymouth meeting. With the same weekend assignment ahead of them, She’s Samashing (C Ormsby) and Crown Of Thorns (Grant) covered 1200m in 1:23.9, 1000m in 1:07.7 and 600m in 39.6.
 
Milan Miss (Cameron) and Clos De Tart (Stack) prepared for Rotorua with 1200m in 1:25.9, 1000m in 1:09.7 and 600m in 39.8. Surpass (Leveque), who cleared maiden grade in runaway style recently, worked well by himself over the same ground in 1:22.2, 1:08.8 and 40.6, while Sunset Pass (Miller) and Prospero (J McKay) returned 1:25.5, 1:09.9 and 40.7.
 
Fastfoot (Allen) and She’s Insatiable (Campbell) left 1000m behind in 1:08.9 and 600m in 40.7. Glitzabeel (M Brosnan) strode over 1200m in 1:22.8, with her last 1000m in 1:08 and 600m in 40.6. Over the same ground Perfect Start (W Hillis) and Nothing Trivial (K Hillis) took 1:22.8, 1:07.6 and 40.8, Rose Of Falkirk (M Brosnan) was timed over 1000m in 1:07.2 and 41.
 
On the sand Leica Storm (P Turner) had pace on with 1200m in 1:18.2, 1000m in 1:04.6 and 600m in 38.5. Kashin Girl (Sapsworth) and Alice Webb Ellis (Chiong) were not extended over 1000m in 1:11.5 and 600m in 39.8.
 
On the all-weather track Ira Bean (McRae) hit out strongly over the last 1200m of his work in 1:25.3, with the final 1000m in 1:09.7 and 600m in 39.1. Fujisawa (C Ormsby) and Market leader (Armando) took 1:12.2 for 1000m and 38.5 for their final 600m.