TURN THE ACE underlined his weekend prospects at Te Rapa with encouraging final work.

On a heavy No.4 grass, TURN THE ACE was kept under a hold from the 1000m run in 1.12, the final 600m in 40.1. He has a big weight to carry but will handle the heavy track expected. He also has the benefit of Opie Bosson up and two previous wins on the course.

WESSEX and SACRED DREAM left a comfortable 600m behind in 42.8.

EXPRESS PRINCESS, who ran a nice placing at her most recent start, was timed 1000m in 1:11.4, home in 40.9. ONEROA cut 600m out in 41.6.

Working on the poly track:

LYCOMEDES, one of several local two-year-olds entered for Saturday’s Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes, looked fit when sent 600m in an effortless 40.2. He ran third on the poly-track on debut and if he handles the heavy ground, could be worth including at generous odds.

BEYOND SKIES and ABOVE SUSPICION completed 600m together in 39.2. Both will run in the Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes. RIVER RUN, who will attempt a hat trick of wins at Te Rapa, came in nicely from the 1000m in 1:9.3 and 39.4.

PACIFIC DRAGON left 1000m behind in 1:9.5, home in 40. SLIPPER ISLAND and DIMAGGIO sprinted 600m in 36.7. DOUBLE O’SEVEN and TAVISTOCK|VISA LISA ran the final 600m of an easy 800m in 40.4.

DAWN PARADE came to the end of 1000m in 1:9.5, finishing off in 39.2. THE STATESMAN was clocked 600m in 39.9. COLLATERAL DAMAGE ran 600m in 42.

CHURCHILL|ASTRID and HASSTOBEAWINNER completed an easy 600m in 45.3. NOHASSLE strode 600m in 46. RUDYARD was clocked 600m in 39.9. GET LIT did well over 600m in 36.4.

On the sand:

MEGA BOURBON looked in good order when running 600m in 40.9. THE FINNSTER, TIGHTEN ME UP and GINSBURG matched strides from the 600m in 41.7. CHEAPERTHANDIVORCE cut 600m out in 42.6. MARRONI came in from the 600m in 43.1.