Te Akau Rotorua Trials' Report

Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards: premiership winners last season with 104 victories (second in the current premiership with 63 wins - one off the lead), presented horses at the trials on 7 March at Rotorua.

Weather: overcast, track: Good3, rail: out 7 metres

Heat 2: 2YO 800 metres (neck, head 46.8)

Miss Scandinavia (2 f Smart Missile - Miss Helsinki) - Opie Bosson; settled a distance third behind two tearaways, was five lengths astern at the 400m but gobbled them up in impressive fashion to win untouched.

Owned by the 2016 Te Akau Scandinavia Syndicate, she was purchased by David Ellis, from Arrowfield Stud after having been passed in at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.

She has an exceptional pedigree: her grand-dam Miss Finland (Redoute's Choice) was the Champion 2YO & 3YO Filly in Australia, and winner of five races at Group One level including the Golden Slipper and VRC Oaks.

Stable foreman and track work rider Milou Grylls said: “She has potential and is very nice. She has attitude too, and a lovely striding filly”.

Full of Grace (2 g O'Reilly - Tuesday's Child) - Cameron Lammas; settled one off in sixth on a fast pace, improved wide from the 400m and held together he went through the line solidly in fourth.

David Ellis purchased him as a yearling for $110,000 at the 2016 NZB Premier Sale. Both Ellis and Cambridge Stud master Sir Patrick Hogan, who offered the colt for sale, loved him as a type and being out of a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare felt he had the makings of an autumn two-year-old to train on at three and older.

He is bred on the same cross as champion mare Silent Achiever (O'Reilly), and from the family of champion stallion Redoute's Choice (Danehill).

2 f Burgundy - Aventura - Michael McNab; is a home bred filly having her first trial. She was a given an easy time, looked good going through the line and can only improve with experience and more distance.

Heat 3: 2YO 800 metres (nose, neck 47.9)

Pacific Coast (2 c Snitzel - Malibu Road) - Opie Bosson; jumped away well to lead, travelled sweetly and quickened when clicked up at the 200m to score without urging. It was a super first trial.

Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Breeding Syndicate, he was purchased by David Ellis for $500,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud.

“He is a colt with exquisite balance, is very athletic, and has real class,” Ellis said.

By the leading sire in Australia, Snitzel, this colt boasts a lovely Danzig cross on both side of the pedigree, his page oozes group performers, and Curraghmore Stud master Gordon Cunningham said: “I've always considered him a very good example of Snitzel. He looks fast and he comes from the best family in the world, so there is a lot in his favour”.

2 f Burgundy - Squall - Cameron Lammas; steadied to trail from barrier one, quickened into the clear at the 200m and sustained her run without being asked for too much in finishing a close third.

Bred and owned by Gavin & Shane Wealleans, her dam Squall (Black Minnaloushe) won five races over sprint trips, acted fresh, and this filly is approaching race trim.

Age of Fire (2 c Fastnet Rock - Dragon's Tail) - Michael McNab; was easy off the outside gate, settling last of seven. He stood the leader six lengths at the 600m, angled between runners on straightening, wound up stylishly for fourth, and particularly strong once past the post in his first trial.

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 the trial, showing good ability and a powerful action.

Jet Set (2 c Savabeel - Society Lady) - Rory Hutchings; was caught back and wide off a wide gate and last turning for home, but he picked up nicely over the concluding stages and looked good getting through the line.

He was purchased by David Ellis for $440,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Blandford Lodge.

Ellis said: “The Savabeel / O'Reilly cross is proving incredibly successful and he fits the mould of a 2000 Guineas/Derby type, with a terrific nature, and although having to stretch a bit we were very pleased to secure him”.

A half-brother to stable-mate and Karaka Million placed colt Kingsman (Darci Brahma), who ran a slashing race for third on Derby Day at Ellerslie, his dam, Society Lady (O'Reilly), was a smart winner as a two-year-old, and grand-dam, Logical Lady (Sound Reason), left champion 3YO miler Final Destination (O'Reilly), a winner of the 1000 Guineas and Bayer Classic.

Heat 4: 2YO 800 metres (½ a length, 1 ¾ lengths 47.4)

Embellish (2 c Savabeel - Bling) - Opie Bosson; was third throughout in his first trial. He understandably showed a touch of greenness when looking to quicken on his own accord in the straight and went through the line on a nice rein.

Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Breeding Syndicate, the brother to Group One winner Diademe, who subsequently sold for $740,000, was bought by David Ellis for $775,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Waikato Stud.

“He is a magnificent colt and a standout at Waikato Stud when we did the farm inspections,” said Ellis, at the time of purchase.

“The colt has a lovely cross of Sir Tristram on both sides of his pedigree.”

Waikato Stud proprietor Mark Chittick said: “He's a beautiful type with a great pedigree and the Savabeel-O'Reilly cross is one that's really worked. He was extremely popular in the lead-up to the sale, more so than any other yearling we've had.”

2 f Not A Single Doubt - Ban the Recorder - Cameron Lammas; posted wide in fifth and lengthened nicely in the straight, without being asked for a serious effort, to finish fifth.

She was purchased by David Ellis for $60,000 at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from Mane Lodge and is by a champion stallion, Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice) whose progeny have sold up to $850,000, while his fee has increased from $13,750 to $33,000 to $71,500.

She is a filly of good size and strength and looks as though she will continue to improve.

Lady Zeraph (2 f Makfi - Zatiger) - Michael McNab; was pushed a long in midfield, finding the sprint trip too short, but rolled on nicely past the post, looking for further, as her breeding suggests.

She was purchased by David Ellis for $120,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

Ellis said: “She is a very athletic filly and being a late foal, with a staying pedigree, will continue to improve as she matures. She strikes us as the type of filly that has the quality to prepare for the 1000 Guineas and train on to an Oaks distance”.

From the draft of Wellfield Stud, who raced her dam Zatiger, by Zabeel, she was an impressive three-time winner over a mile and in turn has already left Billy Britain (One Cool Cat) a winner of five races up to 2200 metres in Singapore, and Tiger Tim (Alamosa) who has won four and shapes as a notable staying horse in New Zealand.

Heat 6: Maiden 800 metres (½ a length, 2 lengths 48.2)

3 f Showcasing - Real Success - Cameron Lammas; back on the inner from barrier one, she quickened up stylishly in the straight for third and kept running boldly after the line.

It was a very good first trial from a filly bought for $50,000 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Trelawney, and given to trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards to prepare.

Her dam, Real Success (Success Express) was an impressive winner of six races, including a Group Two and two Group Three victories, and in turn a terrific broodmare being the dam of Queensland Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Vouvray (Zabeel) and Syrah (Traditionally) who has left Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner A Touch of Ruby, raced by the same connections.

Heat 12: Maiden 1000 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 1 ¼ lengths 59.8)

Zedman (4 g Zed - Sazerac) - Michael McNab; showed zip to race near the pace and finish third.

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.