KEY POINTS:
Ain't She Neat looked ready to clear maiden company at Thames on the weekend when she worked stylishly at Matamata yesterday.
Galloping on a good plough, Ain't She Neat (Rastrick) began steadily from the 1200m to run that distance in 1:20.2, gradually building her momentum for a final 1000m in 1:04.8 and 600m in 36.
She was travelling well at the finish and gets an ideal opportunity for a deserved win in the maiden stayers' event at Thames.
Stablemate Just Diamonds (Turner) tuned up for the juvenile event at Woodville tomorrow when she covered 1000m in 1:07.2 and quickened readily for a smart final section in 36.5. She is a No Excuse Needed filly with a pre-Christmas trial placing.
Volscar (Gray) prepared for Thames with 800m in 53.2 and the last 600m in 39. He is well drawn to cap off a run of minor placings. Realign (Coleman) was not asked for much in his final work either, but strode out in good style over 1000m in 1:10 and 600m in 38.6.
Darci Brahma (T. Harris) continued his recent progress when he worked with Maroofity (Sapsworth) in a brilliant 59.2 for 1000m and 35.4 for the last 600m. Darci Brahma will trial next week at Paeroa as a lead-up to the Telegraph Handicap. Likely rival Jokers Wild stretched out over the last 800m of his work in 53.9 and 600m in 39.3. He is burly but well.
Charaad (Turner) looked fit when working over 1200m in 1:21.9 and 600m in 38.7. Congaline (T. Harris) was not extended with 1200m in 1:25.2 and 600m in 43.3. He was unharmed when he escaped from the starting gates at Ellerslie on Monday.
Over the same ground Beersheba Knight (Van de Molen) took 1:23.2 and 41, Halfacrown (M. Brosnan) 1:22.6 and 38.3, Show Lad (T. Harris) 1:22.4 and 40, Mayday Jones (Teggert) 1:22.4 and 37.6, and Stolen Thunder (C. Ormsby) 1:29.6 and 45.2.
Triplebank (Van de Molen) had no trouble cutting out 1200m in 1:21 and 60m in 39, while Carmenere (Wenn) was let off with 1200m in 1:28.9 and 42.7. Royal Kazak (Rastrick) was travelling well at the end of 1000m in 1:08.3 and 600m in 38.4.
Takeitall (C. Ormsby) and Island Time (Turner) worked soundly over 1000m in 1:05.2 and 600m in 37.4, while Southern Honey (M. Brosnan) took 1:04.5 and 38.6. Pentane (C. Ormsby) was not extended over 1200m in 1:21.7, the last 600m in 37.2. Scicolone (C. Lammas) ran her last 600m in 38.8.
* Parua Bay returned a sound final trial at Pukekohe yesterday for his Thames engagement tomorrow.
Working on a good plough, Parua Bay (Manap) ran the last 1200m of 1600 in 1:19.3 and 600 in 39.
This newcomer to the Wiles-Hughes team could atone for his last-start failure. His previous form was solid.
Breezed (Yetton) covered the last 1200m of her 1600 in 1:23.3 and 600 in 41.2.
Only slight improvement on her Ellerslie effort last time out would see her win.
Dual acceptor Speedalot (Evans) finished 1200m in 1:19.7, the final 600 in 38.6. She should be tough to beat in whatever race she contests.
Rove (Phelan) went 1600m, the last 1200 in 1:22.8 and 600 strongly in 37.8.
On the all-weather sand, Jaca Rema (Poulson) looked ready for a bold first-up race when running 800m under a firm hold in 54.5, the closing 600 in 40.7.
