Te Akau Cambridge Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses at Cambridge - Monday 6 January -

Weather: cloudy, track: Good3, rail: true

Heat 10 Open 935 metres (½ a length, ¾ lengths 55.5)

Fabulous Flight (5 g I Am Invincible - Court Flying) - Troy Harris; steadied off a wide gate to seventh, seven lengths 600m, tracked clear widest at the 200m and found the line strongly. 

A winner three times to 1600 metres for the Te Akau Fabulous Flight Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he shapes to race well again and capable of stepping in distance. 

Vino Bella (3 f Burgundy - Pinstinct) - Opie Bosson; progressed from an outside draw to fifth, four lengths 600, and held together off the pace. 

Freshened in November, following a first and second, she was bred and managed by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM for the Te Akau Vino Bella Syndicate.

Heat 11 Maiden 935 metres (3 lengths, nose 55.1)

Aromatic (3 f Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay) - Opie Bosson; worked forward to lead a competitive pace, lifted when asked and stuck to the task for second. 

Purchased by David Ellis for $160,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Milan Park (same as recent winner High Achiever (Pins)), owned by the Te Akau Sacred Wine Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), her dam Vickezzchardonnay, by the highest priced yearling to ever sell at Karaka, Don Eduardo ($3.6 million) (Zabeel), was an impressive five-time winner from 1600m to 2100m.

Heat 12 Maiden 935 metres (2 ½ lengths, 1 ½ lengths 54.7)

Messing (3 f Dissident - Rossarita) - Opie Bosson; progressed forward to trail a genuine pace and kept up a good gallop for third. 

Owned by Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Jo Lindsay at Cambridge Stud, she is from the first crop of five-time Group One winner and Australian Horse of the Year Dissident (Sebring). Trained by Peter Moody, Dissident was known for his exceptionally tough qualities when winning from 1000 metres to 1600 metres. Her dam, Rossarita (Testa Rossa), won three times to 1300 metres in Australia.

Heat 13 Maiden 935 metres (head, ½ a length 55.1)

Rakuten (3 g Savabeel - Millililli) - Opie Bosson; steadied for cover from an awkward draw, six lengths 600m on the bridle, and once clear he closed strongly for second. 

Purchased by David Ellis and Aquis Farm at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from Ohukia Lodge, he is owned by the Te Akau Rakuten Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and Aquis Farm Syndicate (Mgr: Shane McGrath). He has been given time since two thirds in November. 

Heat 14 Maiden 935 metres (long neck, 1 ½ lengths 55.5)

Truly Remarkable (3 f Iffraaj - She's Remarkable) - Opie Bosson; began well to work across and lead off the rail, was joined to her inner and held together in finishing close up. 

By Iffraaj (Zafonic), the sire of Te Akau trained triple Group One winner Gingernuts, from the family of Champion Three-Year-Old Xtravagant (Pentire). Winning six of his 12 starts, Xtravagant became the fifth of six 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winners for Te Akau, and now stands at stud in Australia. She was purchased by David Ellis and owned by the Te Akau Remarkable Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Heat 15 Maiden 935 metres (1 ½ lengths, ½ a length 55.2)

When In Paris (3 f Pierro - Bulle De Champagne) - Opie Bosson; began well to co-lead on the outer and not asked for too much in finishing a close fifth. 

Owned by the Te Akau Champagne Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis for $160,000 at the 2018 Sydney Easter Yearling Sale. Pierro only ever ran in stakes' races, winning 11 of his 14 starts. The unbeaten Triple Crown winner as a two-year-old amassed $4.5 million and already had yearling progeny reach $1.5m in the sales ring.

Heat 16 Maiden 935 metres (2 ¾ lengths, ½ a length 55.3)

3 g Reliable Man - Postman's Daughter - Opie Bosson; positioned three back inner after being a stride slow from the gates, shuffled back approaching the home turn and worked home okay without pressure. 

Owned by Mr. Chan Kam Kwong, he is the first foal of terrific race mare Postman's Daughter (Postponed). She won over half a million in prize money and nine races, highlighted by the Counties Cup (Gr. 2, 2100m). 

Heat 17 Open 1200 metres (head, 1 ½ lengths 1:12.3)

Beau Geste (5 g Pour Moi - Villa Wanda) - Troy Harris; began well to travel boldly outside the leader and he kept going well in tight quarters over a sprint trip. 

Spelled after winning in July, and a capable staying type, he was purchased by David Ellis for $32,500 at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Valachi Downs, and is owned by the Fortuna No. 61 Beau Geste Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

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