Five leading Australian jockeys will compete in the $1 million Stella Artois Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on Wednesday next week.
Damien Oliver will ride the Anthony Cummings-trained Zavite, Michael Rodd has been engaged for Everbright, Craig Williams for Heza Karma Karzi, Mark Zahra for Mandela and Glen Boss for Booming.
Boss was engaged late yesterday for the Jeff Lynds-trained Booming, a winner at Otaki on Sunday.
Zavite had his travel from Australia delayed, but arrived in Auckland from Melbourne yesterday and headed to the Gareth McRae, Garry Newham stable at Pukekohe.
Yesterday morning, 24 horses galloped at Ellerslie during a session put aside for Auckland carnival horses.
Saturday's Telecom New Zealand Derby contender, Monaco Consul, worked in from the 1400m with The Missing Link in 1:25.4 with the last 600m cut out in 34.3. This was super work on a track rated a good 3.
Fellow Derby aspirant Handsome Zulu worked with Mercedes-Benz Sunline Vase candidate Adaline, taking 1:11.27 for 1200m with the last 600m in 35.53.
Stella Artois Auckland Cup pre-post favourite Passchendaele followed these two around and was taking good ground off them late. It was good work by the high-class mare.
Other gallops of note included:
Sitara and Harshada, 1200m in 1.11.53, the 600m in 33.84.
Nadege and Black Fox took 1:11.19, the 600m in 34.21; Masquerade and Fazzle, 1:11.34 and 34.65.
Occidentalis and Pentridge worked quietly through the first part of 1200m in 1:15.66, quickening through the last 600m in 34.59.
Defending Auckland Cup champ Spin Around and Dead Rabbits ran 1:12, the 600m in 35.97, while Beautiful Girl ran 600m in 36.38.
Leading jockeys Mark Du Plessis, Leith Innes and James McDonald all felt the Ellerslie track, with the rail back in the true position, was in perfect order.
