KEY POINTS:
Auckland Cup favourite Pentane continued his preparation for next Wednesday's big race when he worked in bold style at Matamata yesterday.
During a training session that saw most weekend candidates work in restrained style, Pentane was put through a strong workout by his co-trainer Lance O'Sullivan, timed from the 1200m in 1:22.2 and the 600m in 37.6.
Race rival Genebel (Andrew) also drew attention to her progress with a smart gallop over 1200m in 1:21.2 and 600m in 36.9.
Leading Mercedes Derby candidate Veloce Bella (J. Collett) completed the serious part of her training when she breezed over 1200m in 1:20.5, the last 1000m in 1:05.3 and 600m in 37.2. She is thriving.
Fellow Derby candidate Benedict (R. Jones) got through his work readily over 1200m in 1:21.4, 1000m in 1:07.2 and 600m in 39, while Resolution (Coleman) was not pressured to run 1200m in 1:23.9, 1000m in 1:08.4 and 600m in 39.8. Derby ballot Biggity Bonus (Coleman) ran the same trip in 1:24.5, 1:08.8 and 40.3.
Twopaddocks (Bridgman) looked in good order for a repeat Ellerslie win when he cut out 1200m in 1:23.2 and 600m in 40.2. Ellerslie 2-year-old runner Lovetrista (Smellie) was let off with an easy 600m in 42.2.
On the all-weather track Kristov (Saad), who may run on the last day at Ellerslie, was keen to go faster than 1:09.8 for the last 1000m of his work and 600m in 41.8.
Envoy (Wratten) covered 1200m in 1:24.6 and 600m in 39.1, while fellow Auckland Cup entrant Kerry O'Reilly (C. Lammas) was allowed to finish off striding work with some three-quarter-pace.
* Hagar did his Ellerslie chances no harm when returning an excellent gallop at Cambridge. Working on a good plough Hagar (Whitworth) hit out freely over 1000m in 1:3.3, sprinting the concluding 600m in 35.2. He looks a good prospect in the Stella Artois l400.
* Redoute's Dancer completed his fast work for tomorrow's Mercedes Derby approvingly at Pukekohe.
The Sydney visitor, ridden by caretaker trainer Maurice Campbell, worked off from the 2000m on the all-weather sand and travelled just above three-quarter pace to run the last 1200 in 1:24.8, 1000 in 1:10 and 600m, a shade faster, in 42.1.
