Belle's Echo, Keeping Time and Jestin Case, all members of Lisa Latta's stable, were in fine touch at Awapuni on Thursday morning.
Fast work during another quiet session was on the plough (good), with one gallop recorded on the synthetic track.
Belle's Echo and Keeping time, both acceptors for the Manawatu meeting at Trentham on Sunday, were paired over 1000m in 1.8.5, increasing the tempo as they went to finish with 800m in 52.1, the last 600 in 38 seconds even.
Belle's Echo (r89 1200m) has not raced since an unplaced run in the Opunake Cup (1400m) in mid-July, but has been ticking over in the wings with some good track gallops and a trial.
Twenty-five career starts have yielded four wins, three of them at Trentham, eight seconds and four thirds. She will give a good account of herself fresh up on Sunday, especially with just 52kg to carry.
Keeping Time (mdn mile), knocking on the door after two last-start seconds, will be ridden again by Amber Riddell with a 3kg allowance, putting her in the race with 53.5kg.
Jestin Case (r75 1400m) worked alone and covered 1000m in 1.9.4, the last 600 in 37.6. She finished third in a Woodville trial last week and could run a cheeky race on Sunday.
Ribella Rose (by Ribchester) and Sweys Charm (by Sweynesse), unraced two-year-olds with Lisa Latta, sprinted 600m in 38.9.
Ashley Meadows-trained The Scunner, who followed up a Waipukurau trial win with two impressive race victories in a new campaign, went with The Liquidator (Leon Mudgway) over a well-held 800m in 56.6, the last 600 in 40.5.
The Liquidator, debuting in Sunday's maiden 1300m, will be ridden by Lily Sutherland (a1) and a good effort would not surprise.
Sacred Pearl (open 2100m), not seen since finishing mid-field in the New Zealand Cup last month, was not chasing the clock over 1000m in 1.15.1, the last 600 in 41.4.
She enjoyed a rewarding spring with wins in both the Egmont Cup at Hawera and the Feilding Cup at Trentham, each race in quite contrasting track conditions. She has been ticking over nicely.
On the synthetic track, Dapper Dan and unraced three-year-old Kosta (by War Decree) were paired over 800m in 53.3, the last 600 in 39.2.
They are with Mike Breslin, who produced Dapper Dan's brother Sevenayes to win at Tauherenikau yesterday (Wednesday).