Many locals preparing for Champions Day at Ellerslie this weekend returned encouraging work. 

Galloping on the front plough:

Bonecrusher Stakes favourite EL VENCEDOR went well as ever when kept under a nice hold over a solo 1600m completing the last 1200m in 1.20.4, the concluding 600m in 39.1.

His main danger in the Bonecrusher appears to be ORCHESTRAL. She left 1600m behind 1.51.2 the final 600m in 40.3. She has thrived since her last start placing and the extra distance will suit.

GREY AREA and OCEANA DREAM, two of many locals entered for Saturdays NZ Derby worked nicely together throughout 1600m clocked in 1.51.7, the concluding 600m in 38.5.

KIWI SKY HAWK was sent an effortless 1600m running the final 600m in 42.1. 

MUSTANG MORGAN, who ran on well last start had WYNDSONG for a companion over 1600m, run in 1.55, sprinting the final 600m in 39.6.

Auckland Cup candidate NEST EGG completed 1400m in 1.37.3 home in 41.5.

PROVENCE looked fit for Ellerslie when clocked over 1200m in 1.23.1 the 600m in 39.7.

Race rival and stablemate MERCHANT QUEEN ran her 1200m in 1.26 and 42.1.

PENMAN came to the end of 1000m in 1.9.7 final 600m in 39.9.

THE ESPY and CASHLA BAY returned 57.1 and 41.7 for 800m. 

LOVE LEIGH and AUTUMN BREEZE completed 1000m in 1.11.9 quickening over the last 600m in 40.

MORNING COCOA was timed 600m in 40.4. 

LOVE POEM ran the concluding 600m of 1000m in 41.3.

VELOCIOUS followed with 1000m in 1.10.2 and 41.3. 

Impressive last start winner ZORMELLA, who will now run in the slot race at Ellerslie and AVERIAZ were together throughout 1200m the final 600m in 40.

RAINBOW DELIGHT and WAY OUT WEST came from the 1200m in 1.22 home in 38.1.

TRUST ALONE cut 1200m out in 1.23.1 and 39.4.

HARD ROCA ran 1000m in 1.11.6 and 41.8.

OVERDRAWN and ZIGGY STARDUST hit the finish of 1000m together clocked in 1.9.3 home in 38.6.

THE CHARM left 1200m behind in 1.24 the final 600m in 39.9.

On the back plough:

Derby contenders AMAZING FLUKE and GOLDEN CENTURY worked well together over 1600m the final 1200m in 1.20.3 sprinting the concluding 600m in 38.7.

Avondale Guineas winner and Derby co favourite THEDOCTOROFLOVE

came in from the 1200m in 1.20.5 the final 600m in 39.1.

BOURBON PROOF looked fit for the Derby when timed the final 1200m of 1400m in 1.24 home in 40.2 

BOSS 'N' HIGHHEELS and ARUNDEL CASTLE completed 1000m in 1.9.4 and 38.8.

CANNON HILL ran an easy 600m in 43.