Te Akau Avondale Trials' Report

Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards: premiership winners last season with 104 victories (second in the current premiership with 68 wins), presented horses at the trials on 11 April at Avondale.

Weather: fine, track: Dead6, rail: out 14 metres

Heat 1: Open 1000 metres (3 ½ lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 1:13.8)

Shocking Luck (3 g Shocking - Shamardal Luck) - Opie Bosson; settled fifth, five lengths 600m, clear on straightening and ran home solidly for fourth without coming off the bridle. Head down and rolling on past the post, it was an ideal trial.   Owned by Mr P Mak, he looked a staying horse of promise when beating a reasonable field by 2 ½ lengths in December at Matamata. Put aside after running a bottler for second in the Darci Brahma Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m), he is scheduled to commence racing on 25 April at Avondale, in preparation for the $600,000 Queensland Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) on 10 June at Eagle Farm, Brisbane.

He is one of about six or seven Te Akau horses preparing to depart early in May for racing during the Queensland Carnival.

Heat 2: Open 1000 metres (neck, 2 ½ lengths 1:01.7)

Rocksun (4 g Fastnet Rock - Beyond the Sunset) - Michael McNab; was easy early to settle sixth, six lengths 600m, tracked up behind runners in the straight and held his spot in a trial where positions never changed over the sprint trip.  A winner of two from three starts through May and June last season for the Te Akau 2014 Breeding Syndicate, he has been patiently handled in only nine races.

A half-brother to Matamata Breeders Stakes' (Gr. 2, 1200m) winner Te Akau Coup and stakes' winner of four races Don Garcia (Danehill), both purchased by David Ellis and trained by Mark Walker, Rocksun also fitted the bill at yearling inspections time before being purchased from the Pencarrow Stud draft at Karaka.

Heat 3: Open 1000 metres (1 length, ¾ lengths 1:01.3)

Bishop Rock (4 g Fastnet Rock - Festival Princess) - Craig Grylls; began well to position second and held together he finished close up in fourth, with more to offer past the line.

A dominant winner over a mile down south before contesting the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000), he recorded two strong performances for second before ending his previous campaign and resumes off a lengthy break. He was purchased by David Ellis for $250,000 from the draft of Curraghmore Stud at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

Tavis Star (5 m Tavistock - Megapins) - Opie Bosson; settled fourth, had a couple go around when the field quickened on straightening but her action looked good and she appears in good fettle ahead of a new campaign.

The winner of two races for owner and breeder Michael Nooyen, she has included a frustrating amount of placed performances: seven seconds and four thirds, but the daughter of Wellington Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Megapins (Pins) continues to develop and appears ideally positioned to convert placed finishes to victories.

Heat 3: Open 1000 metres (½ a length, ¾ lengths 1:01.2)

Niamh Elizabeth (4 m Per Incanto - Trove) - Jasmine Fawcett; began well, on terms in front 600m, took an advantage early in the home straight and galloped out boldly under her own steam to win well.

A winner through the winter, she is a half-sister to stakes winning mare Thrive (Colombia), also trained by Te Akau.  Purchased by David Ellis for $62,500 at the 2014 NZB Select Yearling Sale, and owned by Mr P Martin, Niamh Elizabeth was prepped by Jamieson Park for breeder Ken Browne.

Heat 6: 2YO 800 metres (head, 3 ½ lengths 48.6)

2 c Azamour - Franny - Opie Bosson; settled last after dipping as the gates opened, seven lengths 600m, and while a bit green when brought to the outside in the straight he quickened to make up several lengths for fourth.

In training for the Inner Mongolia Horse Industry (NZ), he has a truly international pedigree. His unraced dam is by champion UK miler Selkirk, grand-dam by world champion sire Sadler's Wells (second only in stakes winners (323) to Danehill (349)), and third dam by English Derby winner Shirley Heights.

Heat 7: 2YO 800 metres (½ a length, neck 49.3)

2 g Ocean Park - Queen Rania - Michael McNab; travelled nicely in third with cover, angled clear at the 200m and finished off strongly for a close third.

Purchased for $130,000 by David Ellis from the draft of Kiltannon Stables at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sales, he showed to have taken plenty of improvement from his first trial and continues to progress with experience.

Heat 8: 2YO 800 metres (neck, ½ length 47.4)

2 f Fastnet Rock - Gipsy Countess - Opie Bosson; trailed a solid pace, camped in behind the first few in the straight and went through the line looking for much further than the sprint distance.
In training for Raffles Dancers (NZ), who also bred her, her Sadler's Wells dam won over 2400 metres in the UK, and she has the attributes of a filly that will appreciate getting over ground.

Heat 9: 2YO 800 metres (½ a head, 2 ¾ lengths 48.6)

2 g I Am Invincible - Court Flying - Opie Bosson; got back off the outside gate and although unable to make ground over the sprint trip he received a nice educational run amongst horses.

Purchased by David Ellis for $205,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, he is a lovely type of horse with the depth of pedigree to keep improving.

Heat 11: 2YO 800 metres (nose, 2 ½ lengths 48.8)

English Rose (2 f Makfi - Bislieri) - Opie Bosson; was three wide with cover from the outside gate, flushed wider turning for home and kept up a strong gallop for third. It was a good effort off a wide trip.

A sister to 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Sofia Rosa, the multiple Group winning filly who culminated her three-year-old season with a victory in the ATC Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) at Randwick, she was purchased for $200,000 by David Ellis at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Westbury Stud.  Having her first trial, she certainly appears to have her share of ability and even before racing this filly has enormous value.

Heat 12: 2YO 800 metres (1 length, head 48.2)

Griffin (2 g Iffraaj - Double Elle) - Opie Bosson; held together in front from barrier one, straightened with an advantage and found a good kick when challenged to win well.

Owned by the Te Akau Slam Dunk Syndicate, the year younger brother of stable-mate Gingernuts, Griffin was purchased by David Ellis for $90,000 from online auction site Gavelhouse.  Of note, when Griffin rounded off solidly for fourth in his first trial on 7 February at Matamata, Gingernuts was then the winner of two from five starts. But in two months since then has accumulated over one-million dollars in prize money following wins in the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m), and fifth in the Australian Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m).

Heat 13: 2YO 800 metres (long neck, 1 ½ lengths 47.8)

Piper (2 f O'Reilly - Invermoray) - Opie Bosson; began smartly from a wide gate to position outside the leader, travelled sweetly, and displayed a good action and head carriage, all the right attributes, winning very well.   In training with Te Akau, owners Shelley Frost and Raywyn Ramage have bred three generations of the family and look to have a very promising filly on their hands.

Heat 14: 2YO 800 metres (nose, 1 ½ lengths 48.3)

Wandering Eye (2 g Commands - Adulterer) - Opie Bosson; jumped well, held together on pace, quickened into a duel with the pacemaker at the 300m and remained on terms at the line - second.
Purchased by David Ellis for $130,000 from the draft of Woodside Park Stud at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he displayed plenty of promise in his first trial for the Te Akau Wandering Eye Syndicate, on 7 February at Matamata, and did the job very pleasingly again.

Heat 19: Maiden 800 metres (short head, 4 ½ lengths 47.7)

3 f Pins - Lillet - Craig Grylls; was a bit slowly away from barrier one, inconvenienced by another runner during the trial, stayed to the rail and held her position thereafter in fifth.

In training for owners Francis Cook and Max Whitby, and bred by Trelawney Stud, she is from a Zabeel half-sister to dual Group Three winner Martini Red (Red Ranson), who in turn is from Pernod (Centaine) the winner of eight races and $600,000 in Australia.

Heat 20: Maiden 800 metres (½ a length, 1 ½ lengths 48.0)

3 f Mastercraftsman - Gardd - Opie Bosson; got back in running, ranged into the clear passing the 400m and looked good in her action when making ground for third.

In training for Simms Davison (Mapperley Stud), her Zabeel half-brother Scouting Wide was a dual stakes winner up to 2400 metres and finished second in a Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m). She looks an improving type, in time, over ground.

Heat 21: 2YO 1000 metres (head, 1 ½ lengths 1:01.3)

2 f Fastnet Rock - Forest Native - Opie Bosson; gained cover in midfield, ranged into clear air on straightening and gathered in the leaders with a very good turn of foot to notch her second trial win from as many attempts.

In training for thoroughbred powerhouse Coolmore, breeders and owners of the filly, she is a sister to Newgate Farm foundation sire Foxwedge who had his first Group One winner last Saturday when Foxplay took out the $1m ATC Coolmore Legacy Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Heat 22: 2YO 1000 metres (¾ lengths, 1 ½ lengths 1:01.2)

Age of Fire (2 c Fastnet Rock - Dragon's Tail) - Opie Bosson; dwelt at the start after turning his head as the gates opened, he tracked up wide from last inside the 600m with plenty to offer and sustained a big finish for second.

Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Sydney Breeding Syndicate No. 2, he was purchased by David Ellis for $400,000 at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, from Erinvale Thoroughbreds. A brother to stable-mate and race winner Fastnet Fire, he is a cracking colt by a Champion sire, from a daughter of Champion sire Galileo.  He made up many lengths in his first trial on 7 March at Rotorua, showing good ability and a powerful action, was cost finishing closer by a wide run on 21 March at Matamata, and again trialled very well on this occasion.

Heat 23: 2YO 1000 metres (1 length, head 1:00.7)

2 f Burgundy - Trove - Craig Grylls; went up second on a strong pace and although overtaken in the straight she fought well to finish just off the leaders in fifth.

Showing the benefit of her first trial on 21 March at Matamata, she is a half-sister to Niamh Elizabeth (above) from a family that benefits from both time and give in the ground.

Beau Geste (2 g Pour Moi - Villa Wanda) - Opie Bosson; tracked a genuine pace in fifth on the inner, five lengths 600m, and a staying horse for the future he worked home in slower ground nearer the rail.

Purchased for Fortuna Syndications by David Ellis for $32,500 at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Valachi Downs, he is a half-brother to multiple Group One winning Wall Street (Montjeu) and staying mare of promise Villa Elba (Zabeel).

Heat 24: 2YO 1000 metres (3 lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 1:01.7)

Inspire Me (2 f Pour Moi - Be Inspired) - Opie Bosson; was away well before settling in midfield and a filly requiring both time and distance she held her position throughout to past the post in fifth.

Bred by Jamieson Park, the half-sister to talented stable-mate Its Our Showtime (Showcasing) was purchased by David Ellis for $170,000 at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale for the Te Akau Inspired Syndicate. She is out of a Zabeel mare and shapes as a filly to appreciate more distance.

Heat 25: 2YO 1000 metres (1 ½ lengths, 1 ½ lengths 1:01.3)

2 f Roc De Cambes - Sweet Torque - Opie Bosson; began well to sit second, but a filly with a staying pedigree for the future she was unable to quicken with some more precocious rivals over the sprint distance.  Owned and bred by Ian Farrelly, her dam won four times up to 2170 metre and she appears a lovely staying filly in the making.

Heat 29: Maiden 1000 metres (nose, nose 1:00.8)

Zedman (4 g Zed - Sazerac) - Opie Bosson; allowed to settle fifth on a genuine pace, he was outpaced in the straight over the sprint trip.   A tried horse, he is yet to start for the Te Akau trainers but being by Zed (Zabeel) can only keep improving as he matures and steps up in distance.