Racing: All eyes on Black Panther as return to top racing beckons

Black Panther with former All Black and co-owner Waka Nathan. Picture / Richard Robinson

Black Panther attracted most attention at Pukekohe yesterday ahead of his return to racing.

Working on a good sand, Black Panther shaded Promethean in the finish of 1200m in 1:15.7, the final 600 in 37. Promethean's effort suggested she would also be hard to beat over the weekend.

British Made, looking as well as at any time this season, paceworked strongly once round and then galloped 1200m in 1:18.2, the last 600 in 38.5.

Dipped'n' Grey covered 1000m in 1:8.7, the last 600 strongly in 36.7.

Punt Higher finished his work with a sprint up the straight. He is being kept nicely up to the mark.

Using a good plough, Tantalic ran the last 1000m of 1200 in 1:3.9 and 600 in 37.4.

Tight Genes sprinted 800m in 51.2, the last 600 in 37.3.

Sir Kinloch completed 1200m in 1:16.1. He went fast through the first half and steadied for the closing 600 in 39.4.

* Count Zohra looked ready to bounce back to form when he worked stylishly at Matamata yesterday. Galloping on a good plough with trainer Karyn McQuade in the saddle, Count Zohra turned in a solid 1200m in 1:17.2, finishing off with 600m in 36.2.

Desert Gold Stakes candidate Ciara (Ritchie) worked well in company with Judgement Day, clocking a smart 1:14.8 for 1200m and 36.3 for the final 600. Race rival Bashful (T. Thornton) was also in good form as she got through 1000m in 1:01.2 and the final 600m in 36.4.

Stablemate Momento (T. Thornton) wasted no time in his work over 1000m in 1:01.5, the last 600m in 36. Romeod (K. Jones) was travelling well at the end of 1000m with Strides (Ikee) in 1:02.4, the final 600 in 37.

Te Teko candidates Advanced (Dowling) and Aleutian (Ramsey) ran 1200m in 1:17.8, the last 600 in 36.3. Young Centaur (Waddell) worked over the same ground in 1:19.8 and 38, while Sharvasti (Ritchie) took 1:19.3 and 36.2.

Promising two-year-olds Velvet And Satin (Cheshire) and Made In NZ (Sapsworth) began steadily to run 1000m in 1:05 and travelled up well over the final section in 36.2. Allegory (Coleman) was also working well at the end of his work, 1200m in 1:21.6 and 600 in 36.

Umistme (Tait) prepared for Te Teko with 1000m in 1:03.2, the last 600m in 36.4. Twopaddocks (Rastrick) was not after time over 1000m in 1:10.5, the 600 in 40.5. Nor were Volscar (Cheshire) and Inshelucky (Nattrass) pushed over 1000m in 1:06.2, the last 600 in 37.5. Skara Brae (Hayes) had pace on over 1200m in 1:16.8 and 600 in 37.4.

Arniston (Ritchie), an entrant at New Plymouth tomorrow, ran 1200m in 1:21.5 and 600 in 37. Trentham entrant Cut The Cake (Coleman) covered the same ground in 1:23.2 and 37.8, while Vaalu (Nattrass) strolled through in 1:25.8 and 43.3.

Healing Kiss (Ramsey) and Classy Belle (Dowling) took 1:17.4 for 1200m and 36.6 for the last 600m. Over the same distance Wild Goose Chase (T. Thornton) returned 1:23 and 38.7, Snip (Rastrick) 1:25.9 and 42.4, and Waitui Magic (Tynan) 1:25.6 and 42.4.

Genebel (R. Jones) looked well after her recent arrival from Melbourne when sent over 1200m in 1:24.5, the last 600 in 38.5. Waitui Bay (Tynan) was well contained over 1000m in 1:07.8, the last 600 in 39.8 and Multi Tasker (R. Jones) did similar work to clock 1:07.3 and 39.2.

Naturo (Waddell) showed her paces over 600m in 38.2. Jesterchine (C. Ormsby) was allowed a steady 1000m in 1:14.7 and 600m in 45.4.

* Kaapsize returned encouraging work when galloping on a good plough at Cambridge yesterday morning.

Kaapsize (Robson) was sent 1000m in 1:6, sprinting the last 600m in 38.2.

Dukeofcambridge (Johnson) worked in from the 1400m in 1:31.6, covering the final section in 37.9. The Boy Genius (Russell) was timed from the 600m in 37.7. Rapide (Gillies) and Susetna (Hofmann) matched strides over 1000m in 1:4.9, the concluding 600m in 37.6. Texas (Callaway) returned 43 for an easy 600m.

Viz Vitae (Robson), preparing for the Wellington Cup, worked nicely , coming home the last 600m in 38. Lucky Governor (Callaway) came to the end of an easy 600m in 44.

Tusker (Robson) returned 38.5 for her final 600m.

Working on the sand Waikeria (medium weight) ran 600m nicely in 38.8. Mendent (Russell) was clocked from the 600m in 38.7.

You're My Angel (Hills) was let off with pacework over a round. Danske Beat (Russell) returned 39.2 for 600m.