Te Akau Taupo Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses at Taupo on Tuesday 6 July 2021 -

Weather: showery, track: Dead4, rail: out 4 metres.

Heat 12 2YO 900 metres (head, long head 55.5)

2 f Rock ‘n' Pop - Molly Coco - Niranjan Parmar; steadied back in a compact field, angled clear 300m, and she finished well for fourth.

In training for owner/breeder Aquitaine Bloodstock, by versatile 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winning stallion Rock ‘n' Pop (Fastnet Rock), whose progeny have won 155 races, from Savabeel (Zabeel) mare Molly Coco, who has left three individual winners of nine races.

Heat 14 2YO 900 metres (neck, length 53.9)

2 f Rock ‘n' Pop - Lady Masako - Niranjan Parmar; went forward to contest a competitive pace, second 400m, and she kept up a good gallop for third.

In training for owner/breeders in Te Akau Cherry Blossom Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), by Fastnet Rock (Danehill) stallion Rock ‘n' Pop, trained by Te Akau to win the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and runner-up NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), she is the first foal from Iffraaj (Zafonic) mare Lady Masako, the family of second top Two-Year-Old Lady Bay (Kingdom Bay), dam of Championship Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m) winner Let's Cruise (Zabeel).

Heat 15 2YO 900 metres (1 ¼ lengths, head 55.8)

Asperitas (2 g Shooting to Win - Sehaab) - Niranjan Parmar; got back of a compact field, four lengths 600m, and he quickened through nicely for close third.

Having his first trial for Te Akau Shooting Stars Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), by young Darley stallion Shooting to Win (Northern Meteor), a good-looking sire that won the stallion-making Caulfield Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). He is the first foal of Sehaab (Dream Ahead), winner over 1000 metres in Australia. He was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $40,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Riverrock Farm.

Heat 16 2YO 900 metres (1 ¾ lengths, 6 ¾ lengths 54.4)

Giant (2 g Xtravagant - Increase) - Troy Harris; began smartly from the outside gate, steadied distant third, and never off the bridle finishing strongly for second.

In training for owner/breeder Newhaven Park Stud (N.S.W), who stand record-breaking (1:33.5) 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Xtravagant (Pentire) at stud. He is from the first crop by Xtravagant, bought as a yearling by David Ellis at Karaka. His dam, Increase (Zedative), was a winner from only two starts and already left three winners of seven races.

Heat 17 2YO 900 metres (head, neck 55.1)

Mohawk Brave (2 g Extreme Choice - Ben's Duchess) - Niranjan Parmar; got back in a compact field and stretched out well on the inner for close third.

In training for Fortuna Syndications owner John Galvin, by Not A Single Doubt sire Extreme Choice, whose first two-year-old winner, Palamos, was trained by Jamie Richards to win last October at Te Rapa, before making it two from two in December at Ellerslie. Extreme Choice is a dual Group One winning sprinter standing at Newgate Farm. Dam Ben's Duchess (Munnings) was a Group Three winner over 1307 metres in America.

Heat 18 2YO 900 metres (neck, head 56.0)

Zeitaku (2 c Savabeel - Miss Opulence) - Troy Harris; was let his find his feet before moving to third, travelled well, and he remained on the bridle between runners in a four-way photo-finish.

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM last November at the Karaka Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Monovale Farm, he is by six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel). From the family of Champion Middle Distance Horse Sir Slick (Volksraad), winner of 22 races including four Group Ones, and dual Group One winning Champion Three-Year-Old, now stallion, Puccini (Encosta de Lago), who won the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) and Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m).

Heat 21 2YO 900 metres (1 ¾ lengths, 3 lengths 55.7)

2 f Belardo - Awakening - Troy Harris; settled last of five, four lengths 600m, and she quickened home on the outside to photo-finish for third.

In training for owner/breeder Ben Kwok, by Lope De Vega (Shamardal) stallion Belardo, whose NZ first stakes winner was subsequent Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) placed Avonallo (2 c Real Angel, by O'Reilly), trained by Jamie Richards. Out of sprint winner Awakening (Per Incanto), she is her first foal.

Heat 22 Maiden 900 metres (½ a length, ¾ lengths 54.1)

3 f Excelebration - Midnight Van Damme - Niranjan Parmar; was keen to go quicker early, held fourth 400m, and she kept running competitively for third.

In training for owner/breeder Bill Hurlstone, by Exceed and Excel (Danehill) stallion Excelebration, sire of 19 stakes winners including four Group One, she is the first foal from Van Nistelrooy (Storm Cat) mare Midnight Van Damme, a talented race mare that won three times from 1300m - 2000m and placed in eight. The filly carries a strong influence of immortal sire Northern Dancer.

Heat 23 Maiden 900 metres (3 ¼ lengths, length 55.9)

Luxuriant (3 f Iffraaj - Opulent) - Troy Harris; began smartly to lead, second 700m, and after balancing in the straight she rallied gamely for second.

Owned by the Te Akau Opulent Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), by high-quality stallion Iffraaj (Zafonic), with 20 Group One winners and 136 stakes winners worldwide, from a beautifully bred Keeper (Danehill) mare that Te Akau trained to win three races and finish fifth at Group Three level.