Thursday - September 21st
By RON GURNEY
Salamanca and Heni have been freshened and are poised for a huge return to spring competition judging by their gallop together at Awapuni this morning. All fast work took place on the plough (good), where Salamanca and Heni were paired over a very smart 800m in 48.6, the last 600 in 36.9. Both horses have not raced since July.
Black Sav and Keep It Savvy, two more in a fresh start, were on terms throughout 800m in 49.3, the last 600 in 36.6, and unraced Dalghar three-year-old filly Eugenie Joy, trained by Lucy Tanner, was timed 1000m in 1.8.4, sprinting hard the last 600 in 36.4. Petite Midas and a Darci Brahma filly covered 800m in 51.6, the last 600 in 37.1, and Just Georgie (by Gold Centre), who has not raced since the summer, ended with a solid 600m in 37 even. Nom Du Beel, a form runner for the r65 2200m at Hastings on Saturday, did a quiet round (1400m) before galloping 800m in 51 even, the last 60 in 38.9, while Pania and Rosetta went together in 52.8 and 38.7. Tip The Dancer and Strada Roccia recorded 52.9 and 38.8. Heavens Keep (r85 1400m) and To Sir With Love matched strides over 1000m in 1.8.3, coming the final 800m in 52.2, the last 600 in 38.6, followed soon after by Beefeater, also in the r85 1400m, and Hank Moody, who posted 1.7.8 for 1000m, running home the final 800m in 53 even, the last 600 in 39.2.
Ozil and Sweepstake stayed together over 800m in 53.2, the last 600 in 39.5, and their stablemate Wafer went alone in 53.3 and 39.4. An O'Reilly filly and a Pins gelding, both trained by Roydon Bergerson, sprinted 600m in 40.1. The O'Reilly filly is a half-sister to Nashville, while the Pins gelding is a half-brother to Shillelagh. Jeff Lynds-trained four-year-old mare Close To Me (by Stravinsky), unplaced on debut in April, had a Redwood gelding alongside when running 600m in 41.7, while Lovetokeephim, in Saturday's r65 2200m at Hastings, was kept to three-quarter pace on the sand.