Te Akau Ashburton Trial Report

Te Akau Racing trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards had one horse trial on Tuesday 12 September at Ashburton.

Track: Slow7, rail true

Heat 10 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (neck, nose 1:01.1)

Heart Of Courage (3 g Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Tegan Newman; was allowed to get back in a field of six and not asked for too much he came on nicely to finish a very good second.

Scratched when footing downgraded to Heavy11 on Friday 1 September at Ashburton, he had recorded a strong win over 820 metres at the trials on 1 August at Te Teko, and now scheduled to commence his campaign in the Maiden 1200 metres on Saturday 23 September at Riccarton.

Heart of Courage also has a nomination for the $500,000 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Saturday 11 November at Riccarton.

Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Breeding Syndicate, he is a brother to Heroic Valour who finished Second Top Two-Year-Old in the 2015/16 NZ Free Handicaps after being unbeaten in three starts including the $200,000 Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m). Continuing his form at three, Heroic Valour resumed with a Listed race win, finished third in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), plus three other stakes' placed performances and ran a highly creditable fourth in the weight-for-age $200,000 NRM Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) in February at Te Rapa.

Impressed by the deeds of Heroic Valour, David Ellis purchased Heart of Courage for $510,000 from the draft of Curraghmore Stud at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.