Racing: Jimmy 

Star galloper Jimmy Choux left few doubts about his fitness for Saturday’s Group 1 $200,000 Makfi Challenge Stakes with a much stronger workout at the Hastings track this morning than his two gallops there last week.

Fast work was carried out wide out on the course proper and on the plough.

A penetrometer reading was taken on the course proper towards the end of the session and came up with reading of a slow-9.

Jimmy Choux was paired up with the impressive last start winner No Excuse Maggie in a gallop over 1000 metres on the course proper. They kept together for most of the way but Jimmy Choux worked clear over the final stages to clock 1:5.4, the last 600 in 38.8.

Regular race day jockey Jonathan Riddell was aboard Jimmy Choux and said the horse “felt good” and went to the line strongly.

“It was hard work out there because the markers were out very wide and the track was pretty testing,” Riddell added.

Trainer John Bary refused to comment about Jimmy Choux or any of the other horses he had at the trackwork session.

South Island visitor El Santo was another who worked on the course proper where he was paired up the Thompson-Brown trained Just As Well over 1200 metres in 1:20.6, the last 600 in 39.9.

El Santo was a winner over 1400 metres at the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival two years ago and has been brought north again by his Christchurch trainer Sophie Hargreaves. He was a last start fifth over 1400 metres at Riccarton and is likely to start in the Open 1600 at Hastings on Saturday.

Starguru, who is likely to kick off a fresh campaign at Hastings on Saturday, was not hurried when running 1000 metres with a Lord Of Warriors four-year-old mare in 52.9, the last 600 in 39.2. Starguru was a good winner over 750 metres at the Hastings jumpouts earlier this month.

Shelved and Sold, two members of John Stenning’s stable, turned in a quick 800-metre gallop on the plough when clocking 49.2, the last 600 in 37. Shelved has not raced since April and is likely to contest the special conditions 1200 at Hastings on Saturday.

Catalina worked strongly on her own over 1000 metres on the plough, running the last 800 in 51.6 and final 600 in 37.4 while an O’Reilly-Dehere Today three-year-old gelding also sprinted keenly over 600 metres in 36.5. They are all in the Lowry/Cullen stable.

Jaco Gambino and Hillbilly Bear worked together over 1000 metres on the course proper in 1:7.4, the last 600 in 39.1 while Surge finished ahead of her galloping partner at the end of 1000 metres on the course proper in 1:9.2, the last 600 in 38.9.

Pheasant worked over 800 metres on the plough in 53.8, the last 600 in 39 while a Fast ‘N’ Famous-Golden Gamble three-year-old gelding was slightly ahead of Cheryl Moana Marie at the end of an easy 800 metres in 55.1, the last 600 in 39.8.

A Howbaddouwantit three-year-old gelding and a Rock Of Gibraltar four-year-old gelding worked together over 800 metres on the plough in 51.2, the last 600 in 38.7. The Howbaddouwantit gelding is a full-brother to the former top sprinter-miler Maximum Star.

Tridane, another likely runner at Hastings on Saturday, was sent two 600-metre gallops on the plough, the first in an easy 40 and the second in 38.6. He could contest the Rating 94 2000.

Trap The Boys had trainer Theoni Morgan aboard when running a strong 800 metres in 50.6, the last 600 in 37.2. She is a Sandtrap four-year-old mare that shows plenty of promise.

Another Shine and a China Cat two-year-old filly, both in Dianne Sergeant’s stable, ran an easy 600 metres in 39.8 while a Fast ‘N’ Famous-Alpine Beauty three-year-old gelding ran 800 metres in 53, the last 600 in 38.4.

A Towkay-Centaine Gu Li three-year-old filly showed good speed over 800 metres on the plough in 51.8, the last 600 in 37.1 and she is one of several members of the Lowry/Cullen stable likely to have a run at next Monday’s Hastings jumpouts.

Miss Lioness was moving along nicely at the end of 600 metres on the plough in 38.7 while Whoopi Gee ran over 600 metres in 39.8.

Enuffisenuff and another member of the John Bary stable worked together over 1000 metres on the course proper in 1:7.5 while Arizona Jazz ended his work with 600 metres in 40.8.