MARK TWAIN was the pick of this weekend’s Auckland Cup contenders this morning. 

Galloping on the Poly-track:

MARK TWAIN was full of running at the completion of 1600m the final 1400m in 1.37.8, sprinting the concluding 600m in 38. He finished strongly when running second at Otaki last start indicating the extra distance this weekend will suit. 

DIONYSUS, who gives the in-form James/Wellwood stable two realistic winning chances in Saturdays 3200m feature, was in good form when timed from the 1600m in 1.48 dashing the final 600m in 36.8.

NEST EGG, another local Auckland Cup contender strode comfortably from the 1400m clocked in 1.40.1 the last 600m in 39.5.

WITZ END and CANNON HILL maintained a solid pace throughout 1000m in 1.5, sprinting the 600m in 36.

ROEDERER came to the end of 1000m in 1.5.8 home in 36.4.

RUDYARD completed his 1000m in 1.6.4 and 36.7.

MONSOON NIGHT and ABORIAZ finished 1000m together clocked in 1.6.7 the concluding 600m in 36.9.

SUDBINA enhanced her Taupo chances with excellent work over 1400m in 1.32 4 home in 36.3.

GEORGIAN WARRIOR and GINGER TWO kept up a decent clip from the 1000m timed in 1.5.8 and 36.2.

MOJO WARRIOR sprinted 600m in 37.

PROMETHEUS was sent 1400m run in 1.36.8 the final 600m in 38.3.

APOSTROPHE returned 1.36 and 39.7 for 1400m. 

ENDEAN AFFAIR shaded stablemate DECEMBER at the finish of 1000m in 1.6.7 home in 38.4.

INVESTIGATE cut 1000m out in 1.8 and 39.1.

HARLOW ROCKS ran the last 1000m of 1200m in 1.7, home in 38.

HAT TRICK and WIND OF CHANGE were on terms throughout 1000m in 1.7.3 and 37.2.

DRUMBEAT and SUNSHINE VILLAGE worked in from the 600m in 37.6.

BOURBON EMPRESS was not after time over 1000m run in 1.9.8 the concluding 600m in 39.3. 

MUSE was clocked 600m in 38.1.

PROVONCE ran the last 600m of 1000m in 39.4.

SWEET PEA cut out the last 600m of an easy 1000m in 40.

SKY DANCER came in from the 1000m in 1.10, home in 40.2.

MY ALIBI followed in 1.9.6 and 39.6.

EL VENCEDOR was sent 1400m the last 600m in 39.

NORTHEASTERLY was timed the last 600m of work in 39.3.

MARKET SQUARE had TASAKI for a mate over 800m run in 56 and 40.1. 

VAL DI ZOLDO and PROMISED LAND were in good form over 1000m in 1.5.8 and 36.4.

REVUELTO and FASTER SOONER NOW came in from the 600m in 37.

BEST SELLER returned 36.8 from the 600m. 

On the inside of a dead no2 grass:

POETIC CHAMPION and ARCHAIC SMILE who are both engaged in Saturdays Sistema Stakes, maintained a strong pace from the 1000m timed in 1.6 sprinting the concluding 600m in 35.7.

AEGON  left 1000m behind in 1.7 and 38.5.

Sakura season and Pontifacation impressed from the 1200m  dashing the last 600m in 35.

On the radar and sign of peace  sprinted I from the 800m in 49 home in 35.2.

Cheval d or  ran a nice solo 1000m coming from the 600m in 35.6.