KEY POINTS:
Cruz Control drew attention to her prospects at Awapuni on the weekend when she worked stylishly at Matamata yesterday.
Galloping on a good sand, Cruz Control (Ritchie) began steadily from the 1000m and was travelling strongly when she stopped the clock at 1:06.4, the final 600m in 37.7.
Cruz Control has progressed well since her bold fresh-up second three weeks ago and despite a wide draw, will be hard to beat in the R76 1600 at Awapuni.
Charaad (Rastrick), the only runner for the O'Sullivan-Scott partnership at Te Awamutu tomorrow, rounded off her preparation with 1200m in 1:25.8 and 600m in 39.6.
Kristov was again impressive when working on the course proper, which was dead 28 metres out. With raceday rider Opie Bosson in the saddle, Kristov had no trouble running 1000m in 1:04.2, the last 600m in 37. Despite clear topweight he must be hard to beat in the open 1400m at Awapuni.
Ballymore Lass (Coleman), who runs next on the first day of the New Zealand Cup meeting, looked well when sent over 1200m in 1:20.8, the last 600m in 38.2. New Zealand One Thousand Guineas candidate Do Me A Favour (Coleman) travelled up well over the same ground in 1:23.4 and 39.5.
Two Paddocks (Bridgman), an entrant for Ellerslie on Tuesday, was accompanied by Il Giocatore (Price) over 1200m in 1:24.7, the last 600m in 40.2. Lion Star (Davidson), another for Ellerslie, was restricted to 1200m in 1:29 and 600m in 42.4.
Waitui Music (K. Jones) ran over the same distance in 1:29 and 43.4, Realign (Davidson) took 1:27.2 and 40.6, and McCahon (Saad) 1:25.2 and 43.
Back on the sand, Nordic Dancer (Ramsay) maintained an even rate over 1200m in 1:19.9 and 600m in 39, while Destinate (Rastrick) returned 1:25.2 and 38.9, Additionally (S. Collett) 1:18.6 and 38.4, and Kalashnikov (Coleman) 1:28.2 and 43.2.
Pindi (Grayson), a runner at Trentham next Tuesday, was partnered by the O'Reilly-Mi Centie gelding (Hercock) over 800m in 52.4 and 600m in 37.4. Point Guard (Tait) ran over the same ground in 51.9 and 37.8, while Geordie Girl (A. Carston) strode over 1000m in 1:07.6, the final 600m in 40.9.
* Kim Possible, who makes her debut at Te Awamutu this weekend, returned a smart gallop at Cambridge yesterday morning. The No.2 grass provided a dead track with the markers out 14 metres.
Kim Possible (Cornishe) worked nicely alongside Brianna ( Wall) when covering 800m in 51.3. A recent trials winner, Kim Possible should be most competitive.
La Force (Walsh) and Danny Cool (O'Styke) matched strides over 1200m in 1:17.4, sprinting the concluding 600m in 37.5. Magic Dragon (Russell) looked fit for Waipa when completing 600m in 36.9. Whisky Creek (Ropiha) was restrained when running 1000m in 1:11, the final 600m in 41.2.
Black Cat (Treymane), Rocking Rod (Norvall) and Danny's Daughter (Hofmann) left 1200m behind in 1:15.4, coming home in 39.
Andari Dancer (Ropiha) came to the end of 1000m in 1:8, the last 600m in 40.2.
Working on the No.l grass Orpington (Douglas) continued his preparation for a new campaign with 600m in 38.5.