Te Akau Cambridge Trials' Report

Te Akau Racing trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards took horses to trial on Tuesday 24 October at Cambridge.

Four seasons in one day: breezy and temperatures up to 16 degrees.

Weather: overcast, Track: Dead6, rail: true

Heat 1 2YO 630 metres (¾ lengths, 6 lengths 37.4)

Firebrand (2 g Tavistock - Danart) - Michael McNab; a touch tardily away, settled off the two leaders in third and did everything right when running home solidly for third.

Owned by the Te Akau Firebrand Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $220,000 from the Valachi Downs draft at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale by David Ellis who said at that time:  “he is a beautiful colt and just looks to me as though he will come on to race a bit earlier than some of the Tavistock's - he was a standout: very correct, good walking, with plenty of quality.”

Ocean Star (2 c Ocean Park - Star of Gibraltar) - Opie Bosson; was awkward in the gates, slowly away, and remained back in the field but has the depth of pedigree to appreciate more ground.

Owned by the Te Akau Ride the Wave Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was purchased by David Ellis for $90,000 from the Monovale Farm draft at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale - “we have kept a close on his (Ocean Park) progeny at the trials and been impressed with what we've seen, and there is plenty of Zabeel influence in their appearance,” Ellis said.

Heat 2 2YO 800 metres (½ a head, long neck 47.7)

Publicist (2 c Redoute's Choice - Valadon) - Opie Bosson; began smartly to lead, joined in front and kept going strongly before being snared on the line - second.

He was purchased by David Ellis in January this year at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Highgrove Stud, for $560,000, and owned by the Te Akau 2017 Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis).  Previous breeding syndicates have unearthed Darci Brahma (Danehill), Rock ‘N' Pop (Fastnet Rock), Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), Xtravagant (Pentire), and Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock).   Ellis said: “He is a beautifully balanced colt, correct, good walking, and he looks a natural two-year-old type. He is from a very successful mare that has already left three stakes performers; she was a winner herself as a two-year-old and from a really top international family. We think he has the precocity to race at two and train on to run in a 2000 Guineas.”

By the undisputed king of Australian sires, Redoute's Choice, a son of the most successful sire of all time in Danehill (Danzig), his dam sire, Woodman (Mr. Prospector), who left 109 stakes winners, has also left more than one-hundred stakes winners as a broodmare sire.  Publicist holds a nomination for the $3.5m Golden Slipper (Gr. 1, 1200m) in March next year at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney.

Te Akau Dragon (2 c Power - Cool Diamond) - Michael McNab; settled nicely in fourth, ranged three wide at the 400m and remained solid when closing off for a close third.

Owned by the New Zealand Chinese Jockey Club & Te Akau Diamond Power Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Te Akau Dragon was purchased by David Ellis for $120,000, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

From a young mare, and closely related to one of the best two-year-olds last season in Gift of Power (Power), there was plenty of further encouragement to be taken from his trial.

Handsome Rebel (2 g Denman - London Rebel) - Danielle Johnson; began well to trail from barrier one, received a lovely trip but never clear in the straight and finished camped on the leaders.

Bought for $65,000 by David Ellis from the draft of Element Hill at the 2017 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he is owned by the Fortuna Handsome Rebel Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).  By Group One winning stallion Denman (Lonhro), he is the first foal from Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare London Rebel, from a family sporting quite a few stakes performers. He is athletic, progressed very well through this prep and holds a nomination for the $3.5m Golden Slipper (Gr. 1, 1200m) in March next year at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney.

Heat 9 Open 935 metres (¾ lengths, neck 56.9)

Melody Belle (3 f Commands - Meleka Belle) - Opie Bosson; began well from barrier one, trailed in third, ranged three wide nearing the home turn and the rider never moved a muscle as she ran home solidly for a close third.

Purchased by David Ellis for $57,500 from the Haunui Farm draft at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, she ended last season with the honour of being crowned Champion Two-Year-Old.  Following in the footsteps of other Te Akau Champion Two-Year-Olds: Darci Brahma, Maroofity, Warhorse, and War Affair, Melody Belle won three big races: Karaka Million and two Sires' Produce Stakes (NZ & Brisbane), her four wins and a third from seven starts earning $865,444 in prize money for Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).  Bigger and stronger, she is gearing up for a return to Group One racing.

Summer Monsoon (3 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Michael McNab; was easy early to settle last, eight lengths 600m and without a lot of room in the straight he finished in behind them.

Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Sydney No. 1 Breeding Syndicate, Summer Monsoon was purchased by Te Akau Principal David Ellis for $200,000, from the draft of Newgate Farm, at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.  A colt with good gate speed, he was very professional through his two-year-old season, winning and finishing second in the Matamata Slipper (Listed, 1200m) from five starts.

Heat 10 Open 935 metres (½ a length, head 57.4)

Tatters (5 m Tavistock - Rattle) - Michael Coleman; began well to sit second, travelled easily and was held together in the straight to finish close up in fourth.

Talented at best, especially with some jar out of the track, she is a two time winner, has continued to strengthen with maturity and can break through early in her prep off a 59 rating.

Scarlet Princess (4 m Redwood - Volks Princess) - Michael McNab; was a bit slow to begin, settled last, six lengths 600m, before saving ground nearer the rail and quickened nicely to finish just off the leaders in fifth.

Appearing to have grown and strengthened with a spell, she was an easy Maiden winner in March over 1200 metres and looks in the right shape for a productive campaign.

Heat 12 Maiden 3YO 935 metres (short neck, long neck 57.2)

Adventuress (3 f Burgundy - Aventura) - Opie Bosson; travelled three back on the inner and finished solidly in the slower ground near the rail for fourth.

Carrying the DE brand, she was bred by David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis and shared in ownership with them by GN and CM Bloodstock and Barry & Shona Old. Having her first trial this time in, she displayed good attributes and appeared near racing trim.

Heat 13 Maiden 3YO 935 metres (1 ¾ lengths, long head 57.1)

Pop Diva (3 f Rock ‘N' Pop - Doyenne) - Nik Bakar; positioned midfield on the inner and a staying filly in the making she ran home very well over the sprint trip for a close fifth.

She was bred and is owned by David Ellis, Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM and Mark Walker, together with Selwyn & Judy Maynard, GN and CM Bloodstock, Barry & Shona Old, Stephen Turner, Chris & Raewyn Ireson and David & Andrea Rayner.  Her dam, Doyenne (Kilimanjaro), was trained by Mark Walker to win six races. After gaining a start in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), she returned as a four-year-old to win three times up to 2000 metres and continued her good form at five to register two wins and a stakes placed second in the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) at Riccarton.

Heat 15 Maiden 4YO & Up 935 metres (½ a length, head 56.6)

Dazed and Confused (4 m Showcasing - Real Success) - Opie Bosson; settled at the rear, seven lengths 600m, tracked up stylishly behind horses in the straight before running out of room.

In training for Max Whitby and Carl Holt, she looked good winning her second trial, in March at Matamata, before slow ground thwarted her chance to debut in April. Put aside, she has returned in terrific order and trialled accordingly.  Her dam, Real Success (Success Express), was an impressive winner of six races, including a Group Two and two Group Three victories. As a broodmare, she has left Queensland Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Vouvray (Zabeel) amongst five individual winners of 20 races, including Syrah (Traditionally) who in turn left Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner A Touch of Ruby (Pins).

Heat 18 Maiden 4YO & Up 935 metres (1 ½ lengths, ½ a length 56.4)

The Chaser (4 g Swiss Ace - Intelligentsia) - Michael McNab; improved on a solid pace to fifth at the 400m, travelled held before finding a gap at the 200m and finished strongly for second.

In training for Gerry Harvey (Westbury Stud), his two starts for consecutive fifths through the winter on heavy ground each had merit and showed that a breakthrough could come at short notice.  He is from the family of Champion Two-Year-Old and Champion Three-Year-Old Sprinter, turned sire, Keeninsky (Stravinsky).