Te Akau Te Rapa Trials' Review

An exciting Te Akau team stepped out at the Waikato Thoroughbred Racing trials at Te Rapa on Tuesday - 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:

Te Akau trialed 31 horses at the 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 | 10 | (4 m King’s Legacy – Fatal Rendezvous) – Wiremu Pinn; improved between runners into midfield, was unable to quicken on the heavy ground in the straight, but sustained a good effort for fourth.

Bolli Belle | 7 | (4 m Shamus Award – Fille Champagne) – Cooper Stumbles; settled three back on the inner, was in fifth spot into the home straight and was under no pressure while sustaining a good gallop to hold  her position.

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

Towering Vision | 14 | (4 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision) – Michael McNab; was allowed to find his feet three back on the inner, was five lengths away at the 600m, and ran home well in the home straight for fourth over a distance far too short for him.

Paravane | 20 | (5 m Merchant Navy – In The Vanguard) – Cooper Stumbles; went forward from her outside gate to lead, travelled well, turned for home with a handy advantage and sustained a good effort for second.

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

Kygo Star | 24 | (4 g Wootton Bassett – Star Karen) – Wiremu Pinn; travelled on the bridle in midfield, ranged up four-wide turning for home and closed nicely for fourth with more to offer.

Origin Of Love | 26 | (4 m Snitzel – Re Edit) – Craig Grylls; was posted three-wide in fifth, remained held together on unsuitable heavy ground that she did not like, but trialled well and looked good in her action nonetheless.

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

Belle Du Monde | 28 | (4 m Zoustar – Lady Cartier) – Craig Grylls; took up a handy position behind the leaders, was clear turning for home, and kept going solidly to finish fourth.

Typhoon Lucy | 30 | (4 m Dundeel – Stormy Lucy) – Michael McNab; she settled back in the running, travelled easily, and did it nicely in straight when remaining held together, closing for fifth.

Uptown | 31 | (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 | 35 | (3 f Almanzor – Kay’s Legacy) – Michael McNab; settled three back on inner from barrier one, improved off the rail inside the 600m, shot clear in the straight, and sustained a strong finish to grab the win.

Concurrence | 40 | (3 c Tagaloa – Consensus) – Craig Grylls; settled at the rear on outer, seven lengths off the leader at the 600m, picked up the bridle nearing the home turn, and closed strongly down the outside for third.

King Of Diamonds | 37 | (3 g Embellish – Love Diamonds) – Cooper Stumbles; travelled beyond midfield on the outer, improved wide nearing home turn, responded to urging and ran home well for fourth.

I Am Alottasass | 36 | (3 f I Am Invincible – Villa Carlotta) – Masa Hashizume; began well to trail in third, pushed up nearing the home turn, didn't enjoy the heavy going but fought hard for fifth.

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

Quenza | 60 | (4 m Almanzor – Bavella) – Cooper Stumbles; steadied to rear, travelled on the bridle, six lengths off at the 600m, then angled widest on straightening for the run home and finished strongly for second.

Heat 10 Open 3YO 900 metres

With A Vengeance | 66 | (3 g Exceed And Excel – Eleusa) – Kyle Wilson-Taylor; settled at the rear, eight lengths off the leaders at the 600m, stayed nearer the rail turning for home and sustained a strong finish for second.

System Of Play | 67 | (3 c Ole Kirk – Statuesquely) – Michael McNab; settled off a genuine pace in fourth, six lengths away at the 600m, came widest in the home straight and closed the margin solidly on the leaders without being pressured.

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

Out Of The Blue | 75 |  (3 g Tivaci – Cornflower Blue) – Masa Hashizume; he settled last, was seven lengths off them at the 600m, still last at the 300m, but quickened appreciably to the inside of runners in the straight to snatch the win in an eye-catching effort.

Kinnaird | 71 | (3 g Home Affairs – Orinda) – Craig Grylls; situated handily in fourth, was in the same spot turning for home, but was one of many that couldn't quicken on the heavy going in the straight but maintained a solid effort to finish close up in a bunched field.

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

First Light | 76 | (3 f Savabeel – Early Morning Rise) – Cooper Stumbles; settled off the pace from barrier one, remained near the inner turning for home, was unable to quicken on the heavy ground and remained back over a sprint trip.

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

Katrina Petrova | 87 | (3 f Savabeel – Lady Tatia) – Craig Grylls; began smartly to lead, angled wider turning for home, was joined at the 200m mark and fought hard for second.

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

Lady Zazel | 93 |(3 f Circus Maximus – Lady Kipling) – Cooper Stumbles; she began well before drifting into midfield, with track conditions not to her liking, she finished back but wasn't asked for much on the heavy ground, and otherwise trialled well.

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

No Curfew | 101 | (3 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Masa Hashizume; situated midfield, improved into contention mid-straight, and remained held together among the minors, with clearly more to offer.

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

The Queen’s Sword | 114 | (3 f Sword Of State – Savoia) – Michael McNab; settled back from her wide draw, was five lengths away at the 600m, tracked widest into the home straight, and closed the margin nicely without being pressured.

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

Sword Of Stars | 124 | (3 f Sword Of State – Angelica Hall) – Craig Grylls; was caught wide from her outside gate, posted out in midfield, but sustained a very good gallop down the outside for close fourth.

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

Vintage Rose | 124 | (3 f Satono Aladdin – Sparkling Rose) – Michael McNab; was not rushed from barrier one, settling sixth on the inner, and while she was unable to quicken on the heavy ground in the straight, she kept trying despite not relishing the conditions.

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

Vow Of Honour | 133 | (3 g Snitzel – Zayydani) – Wiremu Pinn; got back towards the rear, was six lengths away at the 600m, widest into home straight and remained held together while running on well, given the heavy ground.

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

Zaharias | 142 | (3 f Super Seth – Green Roller) – Michael McNab; positioned three-wide in third spot, travelled comfortably on the bridle, lengthened at the 200m and kept winding up with a strong finish to grab the win.

Acrobella  | 141 | (3 f Acrobat – Caveat) – Masa Hashizume; began smartly to co-lead on outer, was on terms entering the home straight, and sustained a good gallop for close third.

Heat 21 Maiden 3YO 900 metres (3 ½ lengths, ½ head 58.7)

Aquadream | 150 | (3 f Written Tycoon – Seababe) – Masa Hashizume; settled back in a compact field, improved widest inside the  600m, and stretched out well in home straight for third.

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

Baileysdream | 152 | (3 f Farnan – Savvy Dreams) – Wiremu Pinn; got back on the inner from barrier one, improved on the bridle nearing home turn, remained near the rail; She was unable to quicken in the more testing ground but trialled well nonetheless.

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

Arrazola | 187 | (4 m Almanzor – Shanzam) – Masa Hashizume; coursed wide in midfield from the outside gate, tracked up closer entering home straight, and sustained a strong effort for third.