Racing: Cut The Cake ready to celebrate with Ellerslie win

Cut The Cake drew attention to his prospects at Ellerslie on the weekend when he turned in an impressive workout at Matamata yesterday.

Galloping on a fast plough with raceday rider Michael Coleman in the saddle, Cut The Cake began steadily to run 1200m in 1:19.2 and wound up from the 600m for a final section in 35.8. It's been a long time between drinks for the 2003 Mercedes Derby winner, but on his latest work he must rate some chance in the open stayers event at Ellerslie.

Soliloquy Stakes candidate Electrostatic (Gregory) was also in dashing form when she worked with Forelsa over 800m in 51.2, running home from the 600m in 35.9. Race rival Bonaichi (C. Ormsby) was restricted to 1200m in 1:20.8 and 600m in 39.5, while Roma (Waddell) clocked 1:20.9 and 37.6.

Velvet And Satin (C. Lammas) was well held over 1000m in 1:14.2 and 42, and Do Me A Favour (Coleman) took 1:24.8 for 1200m and 39.2 for the last 600m. Two further prominent entrants for the Ellerslie three-year-old events, Keep The Passion and Soelin, were kept to three-quarter-pace, while Imananabaa was let off with brisk pacework.

The Shoe (Saad) completed his preparation for New Plymouth with an attractive 1200m in 1:16.9 and 600m in 35.8. Ellerslie sprint candidate Devoted (Gray) ran from the 800m in 54 and 600m in 39.3, while another for that race, Mohican Brave (Coleman), took 1:12.8 for 1200m and 40.2 for his final 600m.

Kristov (O. Bosson) had a change of routine when trainer Phil Stevens decided to work him on the plough instead of the all-weather track. The result was a more than satisfactory workout over 1200m in 1:18.8, 1000m in 1:03.2 and 600m in 35.6. Stevens has yet to decide whether to go ahead with a Kelt Stakes run, but would have received plenty of encouragement from this effort.

Kelt second favourite Pentane (O'Sullivan) looked very well after his Paeroa win when doing striding work over 1200m in 1:30.4 and 600m in 44.8.

Ellerslie runner Chatalot (Dellow) turned in good work over 1200m in 1:27.8, quickening for a final 600m in 37.6. Race rival Waitui Belle (Bridgman) ran the same distance in 1:22.8 and 40.5.

* Waikeepadacash returned a sparkling final trial for New Plymouth in training at Pukekohe yesterday.

Ridden by Grant Cooksley on the all-weather sand, Waikeepadacash galloped 1200m in 1:17.4, the final 600 in 36.8.

Stablemate and rival Gallions Reach (Cooksley) ran his 1200m well within himself in 1:23.1, the last 600 in 40.4. Hitman (Cooksley), bound for the Taranaki meeting, was under a firm hold through 1000m in 1:7.2, the closing 600 in 40.4.

* Clarissa rounded off her preparation for Ellerslie in fine style at Cambridge yesterday morning. Working on a dead plough Clarissa (Hills) completed the final 600m of a comfortable gallop in 40. A recent trials winner, she should make her presence felt fresh-up in the Keeper 1400m . New Plymouth candidate Andari Dancer (Ropiha) hit out freely over 1000m in 1:7.2, sprinting the concluding 600m in 37.9.

Mac Five (Peters) completed 600m in 40.6. He begins a new campaign at Ellerslie this weekend. Proposition (Foote) covered 1200m nicely in 1:19, running the final section in 38.7. Mr Mike (Gillies) was timed from the 1000m in 1:7.1, finishing off in 41.