Lightly raced maiden six-year-old Edison sounded a fair warning when he worked in bold fashion at Awapuni on Thursday morning.

With the course proper closed until Friday, fast work was restricted to the plough or the synthetic track. Trials at Foxton were scheduled for later in the day.

Edison was the only one to use the plough, but drew attention to his prospects at Waipukurau on Sunday (mdn 2100m).

He gathered speed from the 1200m mark to run 1000m in 1.3.8, coming his final 800m in 49.8, the last 600 in 36.5.

The Staphanos gelding was going well at the trials and galloping solidly in training before his debut run at Otaki (1600m) two weeks ago, when second-last of 14.

He steps up to 2100 metres on Sunday, and should run a lot better. Lisa Allpress has been booked for the ride.

On the synthetic track this morning, an Alamosa filly and a Contributer filly, both trained by Mike Breslin, took the time honours with 800m in 52.1, the last 600 in 37.6.

Buckfast Abbey and McBlue, both from the Bryce Newman barn, ran 800m in 54.3, the last 600 in 39.8.

Buckfast Abbey was narrowly beaten on debut at Woodville last Sunday week after successive trial wins at Waipukurau and Foxton, and he won't be a maiden for much longer.

McBlue debuted the same day at Woodville, but over-raced in the early and middle stages of the race and did not kick on.

Their stablemate Blue Jeanie, who won impressively fresh up at Woodville, was kept to 1000m in 1.11.1, with the final 800m taking 53.4, the last 600 in 39.2. 

Bee Precious, a first-up winner at Trentham a week earlier, ran a quiet 800m in 54.3, the last 600 in 40.1. She has won two from seven, and all four Newman horses were well supported.

Four-year-old maiden mare Amiria (Per Incanto-Heni), who has not raced since May, ran a quiet 800m in 59.1, the last 600 in 41.8, while her older half-brother Kereti (by Darci Brahma) ended with 600m in 45.1. Pepeha clocked 46.1.