Belardo Boy was the centre of attention during a quiet gallop session at Awapuni on Thursday morning.

All fast work timed was on the plough.

Belardo Boy looked on song for a top effort at Otaki on Saturday (open 1400m) when working over two quiet rounds with a 600m sprint at the end of each one in 37.1 and 38.2 respectively.

He has not raced for five weeks, finishing second to southerner Ears Back in the AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui on King's Birthday weekend.

In-form apprentice Amber Riddell rides the six-year-old, taking his weight down from 62kg to 60kg.

Belardo Boy's form on Saturday will be a guide to a probable start in the $120,000 Opunake Cup at New Plymouth (1400m) two weeks later.

His stablemates Brutiful Lass and Rithim worked together, covering 1000m in 1.11.9, increasing the tempo as they went to finish with 800m in 53.5, the last 600 in 39.1.

Castletown Stakes winner Platinum Diamond and Platinum Pantheon did similar work, clocking 1.10.7 for 1000m, with the final 800m taking 55.6, the last 600 in 40.8.

Lovehelen, building nicely in a new campaign, ran 1000m in 1.18.1, the last 600 in 42.3, and an unraced Per Incanto two-year-old trained by Ashley Meadows did 800m in 57.6, the last 600 in 40.4.

Opawa Scarlett, in the hands of co-trainer Hazel Fannin, was kept to little more than three-quarter pace over 1000m, the last 600 in 45.9.