Te Akau Matamata Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses on Tuesday 9 February at Matamata.  The footing was rated Dead4, after morning showers, rail out 19 metres.  Pictures by Meg Cuneen.

Heat 3 2YO 650 metres (1 ¾ lengths, ¾ lengths 38.6)

2 g Darci Brahma - Sans Souci - Matt Cameron; began smartly to be second and kept up a strong gallop to hold the same position through the line.

2 g O'Reilly - Barabara Ann - Cameron Lammas; settled off the pace in fourth and made ground solidly between runners to finish third.

Lady Amadeus (2 f Medaglia D'oro - Rialto Bridge) - Jasmine Fawcett; settled back on the inner in fifth and continued improving in the straight, to do her best work through the line in fifth.

Heat 4 2YO 650 metres (6 ½ lengths, 2 lengths 38.4)

2 g Saperavi - A La Votre - Muhammad Hanafi; out well to lead, then trail, he took over on the home turn and ran away to win impressively.

Lady Masako - Cameron Lammas; settled three back on the inner and made good ground in the straight for second.

2 g O'Reilly - Ethics - Michael McNab; was easy off the outside draw to settle at the rear of five horses and tracked home solidly in a good trial effort over the short trip for a horse looking to go much further.

Heat 5 2YO 800 metres (6 lengths, 9 lengths 46.5)

Dame Margo Fonteyn - Michael McNab; settled off the pace and a staying type of filly she worked home for fifth over the sprint trip.

2 g Pour Moi - Madam Stravinsky - Cameron Lammas; positioned fourth on the inner, he was unable to make ground over the sprint trip.

Heat 6 2YO 800 metres (¾ lengths, 2 ½ lengths 47.3)

2 f Murtajill - Forbetterforworse - Matt Cameron; settled back from a wide draw, angled wide into the straight and ran home solidly without taking ground off the leaders.

Lady Jasmine - Jasmine Fawcett; settled fourth on the inner and never sighted a lot of daylight in the straight.

Heat 7 2YO 800 metres (2 lengths, 1 ¼ lengths 46.5)

2 g Alamosa - Paint Me A Dream - Alysha Collett; was caught three wide on the pace, went on to lead strongly at the 200m and showed a good action in winning well.

Tiffany's Time - Michael McNab; trailed in fifth on the inner, progressed behind horses on the rail, and clear late she went through the line under a nice hold in third.

Heat 8 2YO 800 metres (neck, 1 length 47.0)

Zavistic - Alysha Collett; began smartly to race second on the outer, the pressure increased when joined three wide at the 500m and found plenty when challenged in the straight to finish a close second in a top trial performance.

Abloom - Matt Cameron; worked forward to be three wide on the speed from the 500m and only yielded late in a solid trial effort for fourth.

Heat 9 2YO 800 metres (3 ¼ lengths, 1 length 46.5)

Alrina - Matt Cameron; went forward to contest the speed, caught wide in third and fought solidly in the straight to finish fifth.

Heat 10 Maiden 800 metres (neck, ¾ lengths 46.5)

3 g Postponed - Promissory - Alysha Collett; tucked in nicely fifth and kept up a solid gallop to hold his spot.

Heat 11 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 45.7)

3 f Captain Rio - Capital Gold - Muhammad Hanafi; was back last of the seven runners and although remaining rearward the manner of her trial was okay.

Heat 13 2YO 1000 metres (neck, 3 lengths 58.4)

Sassy'n'Smart - Matt Cameron; jumped well to position behind the leaders in third, angled four wide rounding the home turn, quickened to lead and won easing down.

Heat 14 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (½ a length, ½ a length 58.5)

Carmenize - Jasmine Fawcett; jumped well to co-lead on the inner and fought well against the rail for a close fifth.

Heat 15 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (head, 1 length 59.2)

Fas - Michael McNab; tracked along nicely in fifth, was sent forward three wide into third at the 400m and fought solidly for sixth.

Heat 16 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (2 ¼ lengths, long neck 58.7)

Forty Winks - Cameron Lammas; settled second last off an outside gate, stood the leader five lengths at the 600m and worked home between runners for fifth.

Heat 17 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (1 ½ lengths, 1 ½ lengths 59.2)

Linchpin - Cameron Lammas; settled well back off a wide gate, standing the leader ten lengths at the 600m and coming between runners he made up a huge amount of ground for third.

Heat 19 Maiden 1200 metres (¾ lengths, 5 ½ lengths 1:11.2)

Amperage - Muhammad Hanafi; began well to travel sweetly in front, quickened into a duel mid straight and went on under minimal urging for a strong win.

Heat 21 Maiden 1400 metres (3 lengths, head 1:26.5)

Cathedral Cove - Michael McNab; was first out then dropped the bit outside the leader, took over approaching the turn at the 400m and picked up when asked before galloping away strongly to win well.

3 f Saperavi - Primo Quest - Cameron Lammas; settled three back on the outer, improved inside the 600m and fought on after being pushed wide rounding the home turn.