KEY POINTS:
Two-year-old Jacob looked no worse for a busy season when he galloped at Pukekohe yesterday in preparation for the Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie tomorrow.
Working on the all-weather sand, Jacob (Sargent) sprinted 800m in 51.8, the last 600 in 37 and 200 in 12.4.
He should see out the 1600m better than most.
Ala Moana (Yuill) went keenly through the early stages of 1200m and was steadied to finish in 1:16.8, the final 600 in 39.
Terabyte (Fearon) covered 800m in 51.3, the last 600 in 38.3. Rival Magic Tryst could stay at home if the track was soft.
The Sportsman (Ralston) was given an easy 1000m, taking 1:11.2, the closing 600 in 42.2. The wetter the better for this fellow.
Towzee (Singer) finished two rounds of pacework with 400m in 25.9 and 200 in 13.2.
Stablemate Pretorius (Hapeta) was given the same assignment and clocked 26.2 and 13.4.
Hip Hop Dancer (Evans), a place chance at least tomorrow, ran the last 1200m of 1600 in 1:23.7 and 600 in 39.9.
* Ellerslie acceptors Fashionable Lass and Zerello were in good form on a firm plough at Cambridge this morning.
Fashionable Lass left 1200m behind in 1.16.4 sprinting the final 600m in 36.5. She was travelling sweetly throughout. She looks in top order and the likelihood of a soft track this weekend will aid her chances.
Zerello (Holmes) sounded a warning to her rivals when galloping 1000m in 1.1, dashing the final 600m in 34. She will need firm footing to show her best.
Royal Imperium (Brad) and Zarracha (Hazeldeen) were timed from the 600m in 37.3. Royal Imperium, who showed much promise last time in, will begin a new campaign at Ellerslie this weekend.
Twisting (Wheedon) and The Fonz (Germon) were on terms after running 1000m in 1.9 the last section in 39.8. Ritzy Lady (McKeon) kept up a fast pace over 1200m in 1.14.2, the concluding 600m in 34.2. Slavadaad came to the end of 1000m in 1.4.2 with the 600m in 38.
Borneo Holiday (Young) and Too hot To Handle matched strides over 800m sprinting the final 600 in a fast 33.9. Cassadcampo worked 1400m in 1.36, finishing off in 39.4. Roman Justice (Hills) and No Going Back (Clarke) ran 800m in 49. AndariDancer (Whale) came in from the 1000m in 1.7.6 the last 600m in 39. On the sand Slumber was given an easy workout over one round.
* Dezigna looked ready for a bold effort in the Champions Mile at Ellerslie on the weekend when he galloped boldly at Matamata yesterday.
On the all-weather track Dezigna (Colgan) was not after time but still impressed when he cut out the last 1000m of his work in 1:08.8 and 600m in 40.3. He is in very good order for tomorrow's big race.
Race rival Final Reality (Van De Molen) worked on the plough, where he was keen through the middle stages of 1200m in 1:20.6 and came from the 600m in 40.2. He also looks well.
The Sargent-trained pair in the Champions Mile, Fiscal Madness and Sarajay, quickened to run home the last 600m of their work, but fog prevented any time being taken of those and numerous other gallops.
Polish Princess (Sapsworth) did her final serious work yesterday when she galloped impressively right-handed on the course proper. She was timed over 1200m in 1:14.4 and finished off with 600m in 36.8. That form makes her a dangerous lightweight in the Ellerslie feature, especially if there is any rain about.
On the course proper, which was dead 20m out, Champagne Stakes candidate Eel Win worked right-handed and was timed over the final 600m in 40.8. He has taken no harm from his first northern run at Te Aroha last weekend.
All My Colours (Coleman) caught the eye on the plough when he hit the line full of running after 1200m in 1:19.2, but no sectional time could be taken. Stablemate Ballymore Lass (Coleman) worked in similar style to record 1:18.8 for her 1200m.
Nordic Dancer (Dowling) was working well at the end of 1200m in 1:18. She is ready for a bold effort in the Manawatu Breeders Stakes, especially if there is any rain, but Lance Noble has yet to secure a jockey.
Like Me Wild (Rastrick) was timed over 1200m in 1:26.2, Ellerslie race rival Do Me A favour (Coleman) took 1:22.7 and 38.9 for her final 600m. Formal Combat (Leung) turned in attractive work over the same ground in 1:20.9 and 37.6.
Promising maiden Sequential (Rastrick) had no trouble running 1200m in 1:21.8 and 600m in 37.3. One Above Par (Colgan) and Magic Sun (Wenn) ran in from the 800m in 52.4 and 600m in 38.6.
Pose For Me (Dowling) and Red Hats (Mansour) were timed from the 1000m in 1:06.2 and the last 600m in 39.4. Lady Sakura (Wells) was far more sedate over the same ground in 1:14.4 and 44.7, while Inertia (Coleman) took 1:08.6 for 1000m.
Southern Honey (M. Brosnan) ran 1200m in 1:22.3, while Phulabeans (Russell) and Russian Diva (Mansour) took 1:23, Alatra (OSullivan) 1:26.9, Double Click (Carston) 1:21.8, and Mirabelle (Sapsworth) 1:24.4.
Royal Kazak (OSullivan) strode over 1200m in 1:26.6, the last 600m in 40.5. Sassicaia (Russell) took 1:19.2 for 1200m and Perazzi (Mansour) followed in 1:20.2.
On the all-weather track, promising maiden Trespier (C. Lammas) strode through the last 1200m of her work in 1:19.8 and 600m in 38.9. Beersheba Knight (Coleman) ran his 1200m in 1:19 and the final 600m in 38.2.
