Te Akau Taupo Trials' Report

Te Akau Racing trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards took horses to trial on Tuesday 6 March at Taupo.

Weather: fine, Track: Good3, rail: true

Heat 1 2YO 850 metres (neck, 3 ¼ lengths 48.9)

Duck Road (2 g Ekraar - Silver Buttons) - Chelsea Burdan; began well, sat off the leaders in third with cover and maintained a strong finish amongst runners for fourth.

In training for breeder Dr. John Southworth, Gilbert Southworth and John Elstob, he stripped in good order for his first trial. Destined to get over more ground, he coped well with the occasion and certainly a lovely type of horse.

Heat 2 2YO 850 metres (dead-heat, 2 ½ lengths)

Live Wire (2 f Power - Jewels Gift) - Shafiq Rusof; began smartly from the outside gate, steadied for cover three wide in midfield, saved ground around the home turn and finished strongly for third after getting across heels at the 200m.

She was purchased by David Ellis for $77,500 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Live Wire Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

A filly with magnificent pedigree, Te Akau had first-hand knowledge having trained the dam, Jewels Gift.  The filly has a lovely cross of both Danzig and Blushing Groom in her bloodlines and in appearance suggests she has inherited plenty of quality from her dam.

Heat 3 2YO 850 metres (head, 1 length 50.3)

Remember O'Reilly (2 g O'Reilly - Ardeche) - Cameron Lammas; began smartly to lead a line of three on the inner and kept up a strong gallop for third in a tight finish.

From a Dehere mare, trained by the Master, Bart Cummings, he was purchased for $200,000 by David Ellis, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, and is raced by Wayne and Jo-Ann Phillips.

A colt from the last crop of champion sire O'Reilly, his grand-dam, Diamond Like (Danehill), was one of the most talented fillies to ever race in New Zealand.  Of note, his year older half-brother Mongolian Marshal (High Chaparral) was an impressive winner on Derby Day at Ellerslie, and now won two of his six starts.

2 f Reliable Man - Keenly - Chelsea Burdan; got back off a wide gate, eight lengths 600m, and a staying type in the making she unwound a big finish to close the margin into midfield.

A white horse, purchased by David Ellis for $180,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Diamond Lodge.

“She is one of the nicest and most relaxed fillies you'll see in a lifetime of inspecting horses,” Ellis said.

From the talented race mare Keenly (Keeninsky), winner of three races up to 2200 metres, she has a high-quality depth of stallions on her dam side, with second dam Marlena being by Champion sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram), who in turn is from Success Express mare Vargas Diamond. Success Express is also the dam sire of Champion stallion Savabeel.

Heat 4 2YO 850 metres (neck, 2 ¼ lengths 50.2)

2 g Camelot - Chorus of Angels - Dennis Tan; got back to last after beginning slowly, seven lengths 600m, but recovered with a good finish between runners for fourth.

Boasting rich international pedigree, from the first Australian bred crop of champion three-year-old colt in Europe and Great Britain, Camelot (Montjeu), he was purchased by David Ellis for $200,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the Curraghmore draft.

He has a lovely Danehill influence in his pedigree: on the dam side of his sire, Camelot, and through Rock of Gibraltar on his dam side.

Shebringsmerubies (2 f Sebring - Run Away Ruby) - Tegan Newman; drifted from amongst runners, seven lengths astern at the 600m, and picked up well in the straight to be doing her best work through the line.

Owned by the Te Akau Girls Having Fun Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was offered by Vinery Stud and purchased by David Ellis for $57,500 at the 2017 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.

“She is a beautiful grey filly, and the first foal from a mare that showed versatility to win three times from 1200 metres to a mile,” Ellis said.

Heat 5 2YO 850 metres (2 ¾ lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 49.8)

2 f Makfi - Espresso Cavallo - Nik Bakar; was away swiftly to lead by three lengths, cruised along effortlessly in front and won accordingly.

It was an exciting first trial in many ways: David Ellis was commissioned by recent mother Julia Rose-Ellis to buy a horse - having already purchased stakes' placed Gris Dame (Reliable Man) for the Te Akau Double Trouble Syndicate that she manages.

From the draft of Westbury Stud, he purchased the Makfi filly for $115,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.

Her sire, Makfi (Dubawi), was a British bred, French trained, 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner. Notably, Makfi has sired NZ Horse of the Year Bonneval, and New Zealand Filly of the Year Sofia Rosa.  Lonhro (Octagonal), the dam sire, was a remarkable racehorse in Australia: Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Miler, and Horse of the Year, winning 26 of his 35 starts. He was a son of Octagonal (Zabeel), himself a Champion Two & Three-Year-Old and Australian Horse of the Year.

Heat 6 2YO 850 metres (head, 2 ½ lengths 52.3)

2 f Per Incanto - Moss Lady - Nik Bakar; settled back inner on a steady pace, tracked up behind runners in the straight and seen doing her best work through the line.

In training for Qiji Bloodstock, after they purchased her for $40,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, she is the first foal of a mare by Authorized, from the family of successful stallion Mossman (Success Express).

Heat 7 2YO 850 metres (1 ¾ lengths, ½ a length 50.1)

2 c Shocking - Walsburgs Dream - Shafiq Rusof; began well to position outside the leader, and not asked for too much he kept up a solid gallop for a close fourth.

In training for Alex Teng (Mandarin Bloodstock), after being purchased for $160,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, he shapes as a genuine staying prospect: by a Melbourne Cup winner, from a mare that won five times up to 2200 metres and grand-dam that won twice up to 2200 metres.

Heat 11 Open 1000 metres (5 lengths, long neck 59.8)

Tiffany's Time (4 m Alamosa - Tinsel Time) - Tegan Newman; relaxed nicely fifth inner on a steady pace, maintained her position and pleased the rider through the line.

Consistent in four starts before her Maiden victory, she came of age when winning again during a successful spring campaign at Riccarton, and looks ready for action again.  Bred by Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud) and offered by Bradbury Park at the 2015 NZB Select Yearling Sale, she was purchased by David Ellis for $55,000.

Heat 17 Maiden 1000 metres (head, short neck 59.6)

Rock Idol (3 g Rock ‘N' Pop - Edesia) - Shafiq Rusof; began well, steadied for cover in third, ranged 400m and sustained a solid finish for fourth.

Given time since trialling once as a two-year-old, from the first crop of Waikato Stud stallion Rock ‘N' Pop (Fastnet Rock), who won the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) for the Te Akau Rock ‘N' Pop Syndicate, he was co-bred by David Ellis & Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM from the O'Reilly mare Edesia and raced by them with loyal stable clients.

Heat 18 Maiden 1000 metres (head, 1 length 58.5)

Together (3 f Ocean Park - More to Love) - Michael McNab; was tardy to begin, improved fifth inner, across heels to range four wide at the 400m and sustained a big run to claim the front near home.

Bred and owned by Waikato Stud, she is from the lightly tried but talented Danasinga mare More to Love. Her grand-dam, Flying Floozie (Pompeii Court), made a huge name for herself as the dam of world-class galloper Starcraft (Soviet Star), a five time group one winner that claimed titles of Champion 3YO in Australia, Champion Sprinter in New Zealand, and Champion Miler in Europe.

Heat 19 Maiden 1000 metres (head, 1 length 58.5)

Fine Bouquet (3 f Burgundy - Ensorcelez) - Cameron Lammas; worked forward from an awkward gate to position three wide with cover, three lengths 600m, angled clear on straightening and quickened appreciably to finish third.

Bred by David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM, together with Graeme Mander, she carries a Northern Dancer and Nijinsky cross, and the third foal from a mare whose two previous progeny are both winners.

Heat 20 Maiden 1000 metres (short neck, 1 length 59.0)

Inspire Me (3 f Pour Moi - Be Inspired) - Dennis Tan; railed to lead from barrier one and bred to go further she fought on in the straight over a sprint trip.

Bred by Jamieson Park, the half-sister to talented stable-mate Its Our Showtime (Showcasing) was purchased by David Ellis for $170,000 at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale for the Te Akau Inspired Syndicate. She is out of a Zabeel mare, which could see her appreciating more distance.

Heat 24 Maiden 1200 metres (1 ¼ lengths, head 1:12.1)

3 g Rock ‘N' Pop - Our Zara - Shafiq Rusof; was between horses at the rear of five runners and ran home in staying fashion just behind the leading division.

Bred and owned by Kevin Hickman (Valachi Downs). He is a massive individual, from a mare that won five times up to 2000 metres and placed in the Valachi Downs South Island Breeders' Stakes (Listed, 1600m).