Monaco Consul looked on target for Te Rapa on Saturday when he worked in impressive style at Matamata yesterday in his NZ Derby campaign.
The Victoria Derby winner has been entered for two races: the Darci Brahma Stakes and the 3- and 4-year-old 2000m event.
There is a preference to
race him in the weight-for-age Darci Brahma Stakes, also over 2000m, which has attracted only eight entries.
Leith Innes has been engaged to ride him on Saturday.
Galloping on a good plough, Monaco Consul (R Jones) was partnered by Prix Du Sang (Grylls) as he strode off from the top of the straight and quickened from the 1200m to run that distance in 1:17.8, the last 1000m in 1:03 and 600m in 35.7.
The Mike and Paul Moroney-trained 3-year-old has made a good recovery after jarring up when unplaced in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie six weeks ago.
Prix Du Sang is improved for her recent fresh-up run and is not far off producing her best form.
Trackmate Tell A Tale (Hunt) and Corsage (Anderson) were not after time as they prepared for the Darci Brahma Stakes and Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic over 1200m in 1:22, the last 1000m in 1:06.2 and quickening for a final 600m in 37.4.
Meanwhile, at Pukekohe yet another Darci Brahma runner Mandela (Spratt) continued his preparation with 1600m, the last 1200m in 1:21.5 and 600m in 40.1 on a slow plough.
* Nominations for the two feature events at Te Rapa on Saturday:
Darci Brahma Stakes, weight-for-age, 2000m - MacO'Reilly, Mandela, Veloce Bella, Tell A Tale, Monaco Consul, Awesome Planet, Passchendale, Mary's Book.
Waikato Draught Sprint, weight-for-age, 1400m - O'Cartier, Mufhasa, Tavistock, Veloz, Vonusti, Ruud Van Slaats, Ekstreme, Alpha Pukeko, Keano, Kiloton, Arlington, Wealth Princess, Kaaptan.
