Fast work was held on the middle of the course proper or on the synthetic track, amid strong south-easterly winds.

Last-start Trentham winner Ima Brazen One covered 800m in 55.4, sprinting home the last 600 in 36.4.

The Brazen Beau mare has taken her win tally on to seven from 21 starts, and looks a great chance to go one better at Hawera on Saturday (open 1200m). Success would take her total earnings very close to the $200,000 mark.

She will be reunited with Toni Davies, who won on the mare at Otaki two starts ago, and the Awapuni apprentice will claim 1kg.

Pinkerton was timed 1000m in 1.9.3, coming the final 800m in 52.8, the last 600 in 37.6. He goes to Woodville on Sunday for a r66 highweight, in which he will be ridden by Kylan Wiles with a 3kg claim.

The rising nine-year-old should go well given the fact that three of his five wins so far have been at Woodville.

Semper Magico, who turns 11 on the first of August, ran 1000m in 1.4.2, with the final 800m taking 51.3, the last 600 in 38.2. He has won a tick under $300,000 in stake earnings from 11 wins and 18 placings back to third, and is working as well as ever.

Hawera entrant Turn It Up (r65 1200m) and stablemate Tsarista (by Tarzino) were paired over 1000m in 1.8.1 and finished with 800m in 53.1, the last 600 in 38.8. Turn It Up should go well fresh up on Saturday.

Her race rival Amazing Son, who finished second when resuming last start, had Platinum Diamond for a partner over 1000m in 1.9.5, increasing the tempo as they went to run the final 800m in 53.3, the last 600 in 38.5.

Carlow (mdn 1200m), another who should go well fresh, and unraced three-year-old filly Sweys Charm (by Sweynesse) ran 800m in 53.8, the last 600 in 38.1. Carlow will have the blinkers removed for Saturday.

Sevenayes (open mile) and Woodville entrant Popinjay (mdn 2100m) ended with 39.9, while their stablemate Kereti, in at Hawera (r75 1400m), did 800m in 57.6 and 40.3. East End Lad, off to Hawera as well (r65 1400m), and Cassius The Colt took 57.4 and 41.1.

Sauron (by Per Incanto) and I Toldyou (by Ribchester), unraced three-year-old geldings trained by Roydon Bergerson, ran 1000m in 1.11.6, the last 600 in 41 seconds even.

Wind Talker, hard to beat in Sunday's race for amateur riders, had Skye du Plessis aboard 1000m in 1.13.8, the last 600 in 41.2. She will ride him in the maiden 2100m.

Leica Ace, who will have blinkers added to the gear at Hawera (mdn 1200m), and stablemate Weneedashock left 1000m behind in 1.14.5, the last 600 in 41.6.

Rocking Light and Sloane Square, who each tackle respective maiden hurdle races on Sunday, went together over 1000m in 1.15.5, the last 600 in 42.8.

Tokyodome and a Derryn colt sprinted 600m in 42.6, and Offertory, stepping up in distance at Otaki on Friday, went an easy 800m, the last 600 in 43.5.

Our Giulia, also racing at Otaki (r65 f&m 1300m), ended with 44.1, while Omega Boy and Super Flash, in separate gallops, were restricted to three-quarter pace. Super Flash is in the maiden steeplechase on Sunday.

On the synthetic track, Falcrests Belle sped over 800m in 51.9, the last 600 in 35.9, and this mare, with a win and two thirds to show from her five starts so far, has not been seen since January.

All In Vain, now in the Gray stable, did a quiet round before galloping 1000m in 1.8.2, the last 600 in 38 seconds even, and Showbastian Coe did 800m in 52.4 and 38.2.

Jamaica Bay, unplaced when resuming at the end of May, caught the eye with his 1000m in 1.9.7, coming the final 800m in 53.1, the last 600 in 39.8. He was unplaced at the Levin jump-outs last week.

Dazz breezed over 800m in 53.5, the last 600 in 39.9, while Al Passo and a Vespa filly stablemate ended with 600 in 39.7. Karryn was kept to 800m in 57.1, the last 600 in 42.2.

Dazz, Al Passo and Karryn are all last-start winners on the synthetic track, and are likely to have their next race at Awapuni next Friday.

So too Kodiac Bear, who has a second and a third on the synthetic track since resuming. He ran 800m in 57.2, the last 600 in 42.1, and Red Lady, another last-start winner, was restricted to three-quarter pace.