Te Akau Te Rapa Trials' Review

An exciting Te Akau team stepped out at the Waikato Thoroughbred Racing trials at Te Rapa today - and we could feel the new season calling our name.

It was an important day of further education and fitness for 31 horses as we kicked off the 2026/27 season with encouraging performances despite the Heavy10 track conditions.

Asturia sustained a strong finish to win her 1100-metre maiden heat under Michael McNab, while Out Of The Blue produced one of the most eye-catching performances of the day. Settling last in his 900-metre heat, the Tivaci gelding quickened appreciably between runners to snatch victory under Masa Hashizume. Zaharias completed the winning trio, travelling comfortably before lengthening strongly over the concluding stages to secure her 900-metre heat for Michael McNab.

There were also excellent efforts from Paravane, who led and fought strongly for second, while Quenza finished powerfully from the rear to fill the same position. With A Vengeance sustained a strong finish for second in his 900-metre heat, while Katrina Petrova showed natural speed to lead and fought hard when challenged.

Among the many other encouraging performances, Born To Be Royal, Bolli Belle, Kygo Star, Towering Vision, Typhoon Lucy, Concurrence, System Of Play, No Curfew, The Queen’s Sword, Sword Of Stars, Aquadream, Acrobella and Arrazola all pleased while remaining under varying degrees of restraint.

It was all-hands-on-deck for a fantastic day at Te Rapa, with the team building beautifully, and the excitement well and truly growing for the season ahead!

Please view our full trial report below:

Waikato Thoroughbred Racing Trials at Te Rapa, Tuesday 4 August 2026

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy10, rail: true.

- Heat 2 Open 1100 metres (3 lengths, neck 1:11.2)

Born To Be Royal (4 m King’s Legacy – Fatal Rendezvous) – Wiremu Pinn; improved between runners into midfield, unable to quicken on heavy ground in straight, but sustained good effort for fourth.

Bolli Belle (4 m Shamus Award – Fille Champagne) – Cooper Stumbles; settled three back on the inner, fifth into home straight and unpressured while sustaining good gallop to hold position.

- Heat 3 Open 1100 metres (½ length, neck 1:11.0)

Towering Vision (4 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision) – Michael McNab; was allowed to find feet three back on inner, five lengths 600m, and ran home well in the home straight for fourth.

Paravane (5 m Merchant Navy – In The Vanguard) – Cooper Stumbles; went forward from outside gate to lead, travelled well, turned for home with handy advantage and sustained good effort for second.

- Heat 4 Open 1100 metres (1 ¾ lengths, ½ length 1:11.9)

Kygo Star (4 g Wootton Bassett – Star Karen) – Wiremu Pinn; travelled on bridle in midfield, ranged four-wide turning for home and closed nicely for fourth with more to offer.

Origin Of Love (4 m Snitzel – Re Edit) – Craig Grylls; was posted three-wide in fifth, remained held together on unsuitable heavy ground, but trialled well and action looked fine.

- Heat 5 Open 1100 metres (½ length, ½ length 1:11.8)

Belle Du Monde (4 m Zoustar – Lady Cartier) – Craig Grylls; took up handy position behind leaders, clear turning for home, and kept going to finish fourth.

Typhoon Lucy (4 m Dundeel – Stormy Lucy) – Michael McNab; settled back in running, travelled easily, did it nicely in straight when remaining held together and closing for fifth.
Uptown (4 m Savabeel – Urban) – Masa Hashizume; got back on inner from barrier one, six lengths 600m, angled wide 400m, and ran home fine while unsuited on heavy going.

- Heat 6 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres (½ length, 2 lengths 1:12.8)
Asturia (3 f Almanzor – Kay’s Legacy) – Michael McNab; settled three back on inner from barrier one, improved off rail inside 600m, clear in straight, and sustained strong finish to grab win.

Concurrence (3 c Tagaloa – Consensus) – Craig Grylls; settled at the rear on outer, seven lengths 600m, picked up bridle nearing home turn, and closed strongly down outside for third.

King Of Diamonds (3 g Embellish – Love Diamonds) – Cooper Stumbles; travelled beyond midfield on outer, improved wide nearing home turn, responded to urging and ran home well for fourth.

I Am Alottasass (3 f I Am Invincible – Villa Carlotta) – Masa Hashizume; began well to trail in third, pushed up nearing home turn, unable to quicken on heavy ground but fought hard for fifth.

- Heat 9 Maiden 4YO & Up 1100 metres (length, ½ length 1:12.9)

Quenza (4 m Almanzor – Bavella) – Cooper Stumbles; steadied to rear, travelled on bridle, six lengths 600m, angled widest on straightening for run home and finished strongly for second.

- Heat 10 Open 3YO 900 metres

With A Vengeance (3 g Exceed And Excel – Eleusa) – Kyle Wilson-Taylor; settled at the rear, eight lengths 600m, stayed nearer rail turning for home and sustained strong finish for second.

Systems Of Play (3 c Ole Kirk – Statuesquely) – Michael McNab; settled off genuine pace in fourth, six lengths 600m, came widest in home straight and closed margin solidly on leaders without being pressured.

- Heat 11 Open 3YO 900 metres (½ length, ½ length 58.6)

Out Of The Blue (3 g Tivaci – Cornflower Blue) – Masa Hashizume; settled last, seven lengths 600m, still last 300m, but quickened appreciably to inside of runners in straight to snatch win.

Kinnaird (3 g Home Affairs – Orinda) – Craig Grylls; situated handily in fourth, same spot turning for home, unable to quicken on heavy ground in straight but maintained effort to finish close up in bunched field.

- Heat 12 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (½ length, 1 ¼ lengths 58.0)

First Light (3 f Savabeel – Early Morning Rise) – Cooper Stumbles; settled off the pace from barrier one, remained near inner turning for home, unable to quicken on heavy ground and remained back over sprint trip.

- Heat 13 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (½ length, head 58.4)

Katrina Petrova (3 f Savabeel – Lady Tatia) – Craig Grylls; began smartly to lead, angled wider turning for home, joined 200m and fought hard for second.

- Heat 14 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (head, 3 lengths 58.0)

Lady Zazel (3 f Circus Maximus – Lady Kipling) – Cooper Stumbles; began well before drifting into midfield, finished back but not asked for much on heavy ground and otherwise trialled well.

- Heat 15 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 1 ¾ lengths 58.3)

No Curfew (3 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Masa Hashizume; situated midfield, improved into contention mid-straight, and remained held together among minors, with more to offer.

- Heat 16 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (¾ length, ½ length 58.3)

The Queen’s Sword (3 f Sword Of State – Savoia) – Michael McNab; settled back from wide draw, five lengths 600m, tracked widest into home straight, and closed margin nicely without being pressured.

- Heat 17 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (nose, nose 59.1)

Sword Of Stars (3 f Sword Of State – Angelica Hall) – Craig Grylls; was caught wide from outside gate, posted out in midfield, but sustained very good gallop down outside for close fourth.

- Heat 18 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (1 ¼ lengths, ¾ length 58.4)

Vintage Rose (3 f Satono Aladdin – Sparkling Rose) – Michael McNab; was not rushed from barrier one, settling sixth on inner, unable to quicken on heavy ground in straight but kept trying despite conditions.

- Heat 19 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (½ length, 6 lengths 58.5)

Vow Of Honour (3 g Snitzel – Zayydani) – Wiremu Pinn; got back towards rear, six lengths 600m, widest into home straight and remained held together while running on fine given heavy ground.

- Heat 20 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (½ length, neck 1:00.6)

Zaharias (3 f Super Seth – Green Roller) – Michael McNab; positioned three-wide in third, travelled comfortably on bridle, lengthened 200m and kept winding up strong finish to grab win.

Acrobella (3 f Acrobat – Caveat) – Masa Hashizume; began smartly to co-lead on outer, on terms entering home straight, and sustained good gallop for close third.

- Heat 21 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (3 ½ lengths, ½ head 58.7)
Aquadream (3 f Written Tycoon – Seababe) – Masa Hashizume; settled back in compact field, improved widest inside 600m, and stretched out well in home straight for third.

- Heat 22 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (¾ length, 1 ½ lengths 58.2)

Baileysdream (3 f Farnan – Savvy Dreams) – Wiremu Pinn; got back on inner from barrier one, improved on bridle nearing home turn, remained near rail and unable to quicken in more testing ground, but trialled well nonetheless.

- Heat 26 Maiden 4YO & Up 900 metres (head, 2 lengths 58.1)

Arrazola (4 m Almanzor – Shanzam) – Masa Hashizume; coursed wide in midfield from the outside gate, tracked up closer entering home straight, and sustained strong effort for third.