Te Akau Te Aroha Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses on Tuesday 15 December at Te Aroha.  The footing was rated Good3, rail out 11 metres.

Heat 2 Open 1200 metres (¾ lengths, neck 1:12.4)

Bishop Rock (3 c Fastnet Rock - Festival Princess) - Matt Cameron (below); got back over the short trip, three back inner at the 600m, pushed into the clear three off the rail at the 250m and quickened to finish close up in fourth.

Heat 3 Open 1000 metres (3 lengths, 5 ¾ lengths 58.7)

Chambord (5 g Zabeel - Miss Montjeu) - Matt Cameron (below); steadied back to be five lengths astern at the 600m, switched to the rail in the straight and made ground without urging to work through the line solidly in sixth.

Heat 8 Maiden 1000 metres (¾ lengths, 4 ¾ lengths 1:00.3)

4 m El Hermano - Santiga Lass - Cameron Lammas (below); punched through to second, entered into duel when drawing clear with a rival at the 250m and kept up a solid gallop for second.

Heat 9 Maiden 1000 metres (1 length, head 1:00.6)

I See Fire (3 f Encosta De Lago - Chasing Mammon) - Matt Cameron (below); was easy from a wide draw, standing the leader six lengths at the 600m and presented widest of all at the 250m she worked home solidly with a line of horses in front of her.

Heat 10 Maiden 1000 metres (½ a length, 3 lengths 1:00.1)

O'Know (3 f O'Reilly - Know All) - Michael McNab (below); worked forward into third from barrier seven, ranged three wide from the 600m and held together in the straight she continued on with a tidy effort for fourth.

Heat 11 Maiden 1000 metres (1 ¼ lengths, ½ a length 59.6)

Paradise Rock (3 g Fastnet Rock - Apple Charlotte) - Cameron Lammas (below); steadied in midfield to pass the 600m seven lengths from the leader and tracked up behind runners in solid staying fashion to finish just off the pace in fifth.

Heat 16 2YO 800 metres (¾ lengths, neck 47.8)

2 g Pins - Miss Katella - Cameron Lammas (below); began well to trail, received a rails run on straightening and kept up a strong gallop under minimal urging to finish close up in third.

2 g Charge Forward - Imposed - Matt Cameron (below); was easy off a wide gate to settle at the rear and although galloping home solidly was unable to make inroads over the short trip.

Heat 17 2YO 800 metres (neck, head 48.1)

2 g Coats Choice - Blame the Music - Michael McNab (below); travelled three wide on the pace, was flushed wider on straightening at the 400, but recovered to quicken with a strong finish under hands and heels for a close second.

2 g Darci Brahma - Molly Coco - Matt Cameron (below); got back in running over the sprint trip and was unable to cut the margin back on the leading division.

Heat 18 2YO 800 metres (4 lengths, 2 lengths 47.7)

2 g Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass - Michael McNab (below); began well to lead, displaying plenty of drive and extension when quickening clear inside the 300m to record a smart win.

Corporate Missile (2 f Smart Missile - Corporate) - Cameron Lammas (below); began well but posted a touch wide, worked up three wide rounding the home turn and sustained a strong finish for third.

Heat 19 2YO 800 metres (neck, 4 ½ lengths 48.2)

Heroic Valour (2 c Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Michael McNab (below); began well to cross and lead on the rail, was challenged mid-straight but lifted with good strength and determination to win very well.

2 f Rip Van Winkle - Bak da Princess - Cameron Lammas (below); was caught wide progressing forward to find a position, pushed wider around the home turn and did well off the trip to work home in good manner for sixth.

Heat 20 2YO 800 metres (¾ lengths, ¾ lengths 48.2)

Leonessa (2 f Pour Moi - Lioness) - Jasmine Fawcett (below); was posted a touch wide before finding cover in fifth and lodged a bid widest in the straight, sustaining a big run for third.

2 g Darci Brahma - Obsession - Matt Cameron (below); tracked down to the rail into the straight before working across heels at the 250m and unwound a strong finish for fourth.

Heat 21 2YO 800 metres (3 ½ lengths, 3 lengths 48.9)

2 f Medgalia D'oro - Elegant Fashion - Cameron Lammas (below); tracked the rail in fourth and showing a good staying manner she worked home solidly behind the winner for third, without being tested.

Heat 26 Maiden 800 metres (neck, 3 lengths 48.0)

3 f Showcasing - Something Majic - Michael McNab (below); was fifth and five lengths off the pace at the 600m, tracked up nicely into the straight and ran home strongly for third.

Heat 28 Maiden 1200 metres (½ a length, head 1:12.8)

3 f High Chaparral - Star Affair - Cameron Lammas (below); was away on terms to work forward into second, travelled well, pressed for the lead on straightening and maintained a strong gallop to win.

Heat 29 Maiden 1200 metres (2 lengths, 1 ½ lengths 1:12.9)

Gardenier (3 f Rip Van Winkle - Miss Montjeu) - Matt Cameron (below); began well to cross over outside the leader, quickened on to lead at the 300m, put two lengths on her opponents and maintained the margin to win well.

Heat 30 Maiden 1200 metres (1.75 lengths, head 1:11.94)

Zambezi Warrior (3 g Pentire - Zambezi) - Muhammad Hanafi (below); away well from barrier one to trail in fifth at the 800m, five lengths off the leader at the 600m, and staying to the rail he worked home in good staying fashion over the sprint trip.

Photo credit - Meg Cuneen