Tuesday - December 27th
By RON GURNEY
King Kamada and Five To Midnight continued their roll toward the City Of Auckland Cup on New Year's Day with a very satisfactory semi-final trial at Awapuni this morning. All fast work during a quiet gallop session took place on the plough (good), where King Kamada and Five To Midnight matched strides going the reverse way (right-handed) over 1000m in 1.6 even, the last 600 in 37.2. They looked in terrific order walking off the track.
Bella Court and two-year-old Dijon Bleu, both last-start winners from the second day of the Manawatu Christmas meeting, also worked the reverse way and warmed up from the 1000m (1.9.7) to be timed the final 600m in 37.7. So did Lincoln Bay and Captain Lincoln, who posted 1.7.4 and 38.4. All except Lincoln Bay (Hastings), are heading to Ellerslie. Time honours went to unraced filly Suffign, trained by Steve Hamill, and this daughter of Sufficient left 1000m behind in 1.3.5, the last 600 in 36.9. She is expected to debut at Otaki next Wednesday. Unraced Savabeel filly Word Savvy, trained by Mark Oulaghan, was at a good clip from the 1000m, running her final 800m in 51.5, the last 600 in 38.3. Platinum Express (Hastings) worked alone over 800m in 51.1, the last 600 in 38.9, and Prosecco was kept to 53.7 and 39.7. Stratford runner Shrimp Cocktail (mdn 1480m), who is knocking on the door, ran 1000m in 1.9.8, the last 600 in 40.5, and she could have gone a lot quicker. The Beama did a quiet round before covering 1000m in 1.10.2, the last 600 in 41.6, while stakes placed Deedee Panache, who has not been seen since the autumn, went a quiet 600m in 43.1.