Manning concerned about track as El Pescado returns to action

TIM RYAN Race 1: Bayrum, Nothing, Mr Brown Race 2: Nancho Lass, Ngario, Hunters Creek Race 3: No Need, Oops Tommy, Only If Race 4: Just Sugar, Julius, Bluetwentytwo Race 5: Onefortheditch, Jacqui Ickx, Doubtless Princess Race 6: Underthemoonlight, All About Fun, Meritaggio Race 7: El Pescado, Duffer’sCreek, Kindaleica Race 8: El Disparo, Katie McKeen, Jochen Rindt Race 9: Martini Lass, In A Trance, Wee Biskit Race10: Keeping Tom, Bransome, Trickle Down Best Bet: Underthemoonlight (R6) Longshot: All About Fun (R6)

BERNARD KNEEBONE Race 1: Bayrum, Nothing, Sinasta Race 2: Ngatira Gold, Thenamesbond, Nancho Lass Race 3: Oops Tommy, San Miguel, Kensington Race 4: Julius, Hotshot Lass, Just Sugar Race 5: Jacqui Ickx, I’m All Ears, Onefortheditch Race 6: Mertaggio, Arzak, Staccato Race 7: Admiral, Ohope Prince, Duffers Creek Race 8: Katie McKeen, Celebrity Miss, Pump up the Volume Race 9: Thats How It Goes, Catarina, Martini Lass Race10: Keeping Tom, Bransome, Trickle Down Best Bet: Katie McKeen (R8) Longshot: Nothing (R1)

KEVIN FLY Race 1: Bayrum, Zamora, Sinista Race 2: Moni Nui, Maharishi, Ngario Race 3: Lola Jane, Acre, Only If Race 4: Good Vibes, Julius, Peg Race 5: Blackjack Man, I’m All Ears, Onefortheditch Race 6: Arzak, Taaxman, Hayley Grace Race 7: Kindaleica, Pan Dulce, Duffers Creek Race 8: On Parole, Prize Lad, Pump Up The Volume Race 9: In A Trance, Perry Mason, Kalinda Race 10: Third Time Lucky, Rocky, Dynamo Best Bet: In A Trance (R9) Longshot: Taaxman (R6)

ROSS FISHER Race 1: Bayrum, Mr Brown, Zamora Race 2: Ngario, Nancho Lass, Ngatira Gold Race 3: Kensington, Only If, Lola Jane Race 4: Bluetwentytwo, Julius, Mossomak Race 5: Jacqui Ickx, Doubtless Princess, Blackjack Man Race 6: Meritaggio, Arzak, Staccato Race 7: Duffers Creek, El Pescado, Ohope Prince Race 8: Katie McKeen, Second Innings, Pump Up The Volume Race 9: Kalinda, Catarina, In A Trance Race 10: Dynamo, Bransome, Third Time Lucky Best Bet: Bayrum (R1) Longshot: Underthemoonlight (R6) DENNIS RYAN Race 1: Bayrum, Coolangatta, Nothing Race 2: Ngario, Nancho Lass, Ngatira Gold Race 3: Only If, Wawrinka, San Miguel Race 4: Julius, Bluetwentytwo, Hotshot Lass Race 5: Jacqui Ickx, Onefortheditch, Doubtless Princess Race 6: Meritaggio, Arzak, Underthemoonlight Race 7: El Pescado, Ohope Prince, Pan Dulce Race 8: Katie McKeen, Pump Up The Volume, Celebrity Miss Race 9: Catarina, St Saturnin, Martini Lass Race10: Bransome, Third Time Lucky, Catarina Best Bet: Julius (R4) Longshot: El Disparo (8) Emerging galloper El Pescado returns to racing at Rotorua on Saturday.

The lightly raced 5-year-old El Hermano gelding has won four of his 14 starts and will be an interesting runner fresh-up.

TUESDAY

Wonder Woman prepared for Saturday’s Ryder Stakes with sound work during a rain-soaked training session at Matamata on Tuesday morning. Galloping right-handed on a very heavy course proper, where the markers were out 20m, Wonder Woman (C Grylls) was partnered by All Knitted Up (Shin) over 800 metres in 60.2 and the final 600m in 44.8. While the time was nothing to write home about, Wonder Woman appeared untroubled by the conditions and hit the line full of running. The Showcasing filly followed a winning debut with a disappointing effort at her last start, but according to co-trainer Pam Gerard she has thrived in the meantime. A jockey has yet to be confirmed for the Otaki 2-year-old feature. Rotorua weekend candidate Prize Lad (D Weatherley) set off from the winning post to cover 1200m in 1:32.8 and was joined along the way by Otaki entry Secret Spirit (Coleman) The pair ran their final 600 in 44.1. In similar work stablemate Miss Silverback (C Grylls) recorded 1:32.7 and 44.6 in preparation for Avondale on Friday, while Rotorua entry Only If

Although lacking racing, he will be a danger to his five rivals in the open 1400m.

‘‘I’d say he would need the run,’’ said his Tauranga based trainer Stu Manning.

‘‘We were hoping for a better (C Grylls) completed her 1200m workout in 1:34.5 and 44.2. Recent debut winner Bluetwentytwo (Turner) looked bright for her Rotorua assignment when completing her work with 600m in 45.6. On the sand Xtravagant (K Jones) continued his preparation for a pending Melbourne campaign when well held over 800m in 60.2 and 600 in 44.5. The star 3-year-old is booked to cross the Tasman next week. Rasa Lila (J Ritchie) was strong in her work as she and Mopsy (Cuneen) ran in from the 800m in 50.2, with the last 600 in 36.8. Rasa Lila, who capped a big season by winning the Group II Travis Stakes in April, is making good progress towards spring racing. Belle Eclipse (Cuneen), another from the Ramsay-Ritchie team, was let off with quiet work, timed for her last 600m in 44.7. Sherpa (Tait) wasted no time over 800m in 49.8 and 600 in 36.5.

On a heavy No 1 grass track with markers set to the outside on Tuesday morning, Dynamo (Bailey) managed 1000m in 1:11.6 and 600m in 43.0 while Rocthatcity (Hewetson) finshed off from 600m out in 41.2. El Corby (Casement) paceworked over track but we have to run him if we want to get to the Makfi.

’’He’s extra well but judging by his work this morning [Thursday] he’ll need it.’’

The Makfi Challenge Stakes in a few weeks will be El Pescado’s 1000m in 1:25.4 and 600 in 52.4 While Reka (Casement) a Taumaranui Cup prospect, and Bransone (Hain) both stretched out in untimed runs. Sand track work saw Bullet Miss (Strawbridge) and Imelda Choux (Cave) clock 45.7 for 600m while Fanatic (Strawbridge) and Marshall (Cave) left 800m behind in 56.3 and finish off from the 600 peg in 41.2.

After 45ml of heavy rain overnight and Tuesday morning, the tracks unsurprisingly came up heavy and proved to be hard work for the morning’s workouts. From Dean Wiles barn, several prepared for Avondale on Friday including Global Warrior (J Kam) who worked on the No 1 grass over 1000m, working home the last 600m in an easy 49.0. Stablemates Kirstee (H Barriball) and Eliz Garden (J Kam) had similar work, working from the 1000m in 1:07.5, and running home the last 600 in 42.0. Battle Plan (R Scott) followed suit, working over 1200m, clocking 1:12.4 for the 1000m and 43.7 for the last 600. Summer Warrior (H Barriball) moved off from the 1000m and sprinted home the last 600 in 43.3. On the No 2 grass, the talented Brighton (K McCulloch) wasseen Group I debut.

He was tested at Group II level behind Hasselhoof in the Rich Hill Mile at his last start finishing a creditable seventh.

Jockey Cameron Lammas gets on well with the Frank and Faye speeding up his work nicely, working over 800m in 55.4 and sprinting home the last 600 in an easy 40.2. On the sand, Airman (L Poulson) looked well working over 800m in 49.8, the last 600m in 37.0

THURSDAY

Celebrity Miss completed her Rotorua Cup preparation with a comfortable gallop at Cambridge on Thursday morning. Working on the inside of a heavy No 2 grass Celebrity Miss was not pushed when running 600m in 43.1. She is in peak condition and looks a strong chance despite carrying topweight. Ryder Stakes hopeful Mongolian Wolf, who was a convincing debut winner worked well alongside stablemate San Miguel, who races at Rotorua. they worked over 800m sprinting the final 600 in 39. Ark came to end of 1000m in 1.9.3 finishing off in 40.2. Castle Dale and a Savabeel gelding were clocked from the 800m in 56.2. and home in 40.7. Kensington sprinted 400m in 27. Sabotage was in excellent form when sprinting 600m in 38.4. Rose Imperial worked well over 600m in 38.9. Secret Murchine was timed from the 800m in 56. the last 600 in 40.1. A Faltaat filly from the John Bell stable Drummond owned galloper and will be aboard at Rotorua.

Manning is looking for an improved run from his other Rotorua contender, Keeping Tom.

‘‘He’s working well but has taken time to get fit.’’

ran 600m in 43.

Dynamo (Bailey) finished off his preparation for Rotorua with a solid gallop on the No 1 grass on Thursday morning. The markers were set to the inside as Dynamo strode out over 1000m in 1:05.4 and 600m in 39.1. Earlier, Reka (Casement) had had an untimed run over 1800m, coming off the track looking in great nick. On the sand track, El Rocco (Hewetson) and Its Time For Magic (Isdale) eased over 1000m in 1:14.3 and 600m in 40.8 while Animator (Hain) and a Showcasing gelding (Wilson) finished their work from the 600m peg in 39.3.

Apprentice Rebecca Scott was the toast of the track on Thursday morning. Scott rode her first winner aboard Betterbegood at Te Awamutu on Wednesday. During trackwork Selfie (A Collett) looked good over an easy 800m on the sand, working home the last 600m in 43.0. Raaj (C Poole) also had easy work on a slow sand this morning, three-quartering the last 600m in 46.0. Just Got Home (Singh) worked second time around, running home the last 600m in 37.5.