All eyes were on Rangitikei Cup candidate He's A Doozy when he galloped at Awapuni on Thursday morning.
Fast work was on the synthetic track or on the plough during a relatively quiet session.
He's A Doozy used the synthetic track and was sent 1200m, being timed from the 1000m in 1.10.2, coming the final 800m in 53.8, the last 600 in 39.8. He went 1.6 even, 51.8 and 38.1 in company on Tuesday.
Senior rider Chris Dell is reunited with the seven-year-old in Saturday's Rangitikei Cup (1600m) at Trentham.
He has not ridden the horse on race day since December 2023, and his sole victory on him was at Trentham, back in March 2022.
Meanwhile, Kawatiri, who is likely to race at Hawera on Sunday (r65 2100m), did similar work and covered 1000m in 1.8.7, with the final 800m taking 52.8, the last 600 in 39.9.
She has had the benefit of a trial and two race-day outings in a new campaign and could easily pay a dividend on Sunday. Apprentice Jim Chung will claim 2kg, down to 52.5kg.
Her stablemates My Alibi, who has not raced since January, and a Darci Brahma filly were paired over 800m in 54.4, the last 600 in 38.4. Kereti, freshened since racing at the beginning of March, sprinted 600m in 42.4.
Coney Island (r65 mile) did a quiet round before speeding up on the second circuit to run 800m in 56.6, the last 600 in 43 seconds even.
He will race in visor blinkers instead of full blinkers on Saturday, and high-flying apprentice Amber Riddell (a3) rides him for the first time, taking the weight down from 60kg to 57kg.
On the plough, Fourty Eight had co-trainer Hazel Fannin aboard over 600m in 39.5, after the gelding schooled over hurdles in the centre.
He won a Levin jump-out in early March then followed up with two Foxton trial placings before his nose defeat fresh up behind Never Look Back at Woodville (jmp hwt, 2200m) two and a half weeks ago.
Troy Harris rode him that day, but co-trainer Shaun Fannin will be in the saddle on Sunday (jmp hwt, 2200m).
Omega Boy, in at Trentham (r65 mile), was kept to 1000m in 1.15.5, the last 600 in 42.6, and unraced Redwood gelding Keepitinyourwallet, trained by Stephen Mercer, took 1.17.7 and 42 seconds even.
Lincoln Star, who disappointed last start after two successive placings, did two quiet rounds, with a 600m sprint at the end of each one in 42.6 and 42.4 respectively. He tackles Saturday's r75 2200m at Trentham.
Lady Performer, in at Hawera (r60 1400m), was kept to a quiet 1000m, ending with 600 in 43.9, and race rival Victortheinflictor clocked 45.2. Shockiff (mdn hwt) came up with 45.6.
Wellington entrants Kosta (3yo mile) and French Doll (r75 1400m) did 1000m in 1.16.6, the last 600 in 44.4, and they are both winning prospects on Saturday.
French Doll is chasing a hat-trick of wins, this time with Tina Comignaghi in the saddle. Masa Hashizume won on the mare at Trentham, and Joe Doyle was successful on her last start at Wanganui.