Il Quello Veloce and Occidentalis were just two of the likely spring stars to shine at yesterday's Te Teko barrier trials.
Il Quello Veloce finished only second in her trial but clearly would have won had she been asked to extend.
Mark du Plessis, just back from Hong Kong permanently, had a good hold on the talented Matamata mare.
Du Plessis will partner Il Quello Veloce again in the $80,000 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on Saturday week.
Last season's emerging star Occidentalis stormed up the centre of the Te Teko track for a stylish win in his trial.
He has had many soundness issues but clearly looks set for his best campaign.
"This is the first preparation we've been able to give him where we've been able to get him properly fit before taking him to the trials", said co-trainer Richard Otto.
Another of the impressive winners was the Mark Walker-trained Te Akau Rose. She looked good preparing for the upcoming fillies' stakes race at Wanganui.
Te Akau Rose showed she could handle rain-affected footing in winning the Duke of Bedford Matamata Breeders Stakes in February.
Class stayer Mr Tipsy, back from a Sydney autumn campaign, finished only third in a sit-sprint heat but did not disappoint.
He sprinted up to the leaders at the 300 metres but was outpaced in the closing stages and was not pushed out.
"That will do him a lot of good," said a satisfied co-trainer Bjorn Baker.
"We are delighted with the way he has come back from Australia."
Another spring staying prospect, Six O'clock News, was given a quiet trial, finishing just in behind the placegetters.
"We are looking at the possibility of sending him to the Metropolitan in Sydney, but there are not a great lot of lead-up races," said co-trainer Trent Busuttin.
Racing: Trial shows Il Quello Veloce ready for Foxbridge Plate
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