Te Akau Te Teko & Taupo Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses at Taupo on Monday 29 April and Te Teko on Friday 26 April …

TAUPO - MONDAY 29 APRIL

Weather: overcast, track: Dead5, rail: out 4.5 metres

Heat 1 2YO 875 metres (1 length, head 52.2)

Vino Bella (2 f Burgundy - Pinstinct) - Chelsea Burdan; held a prominent position on pace from barrier one, cornered well into the straight and sustained a solid gallop without urging to finish second. 

An improving filly that has registered two thirds from three starts, she has strengthened from a break and is preparing to resume in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres on Wednesday 15 May at Ruakaka. Owned by the Te Akau Vino Bella Syndicate, she was bred and is managed by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM.

Heat 4 2YO 875 metres (head, head 51.8)

Chuffed(2 f Savabeel - Glad) - Anna Jones; pushed up sixth inner passing the 600m on a competitive and genuine pace, and although finishing rearward her action looked fine. 

In training for Waikato Stud, and having her first trial, she is out of talented race mare Glad (Pins). Trained by Te Akau to win four races, Glad impressed winning twice as a three-year-old and kept improving at four to record a strong win in the Anniversary Handicap (Listed, 1600m) at Trentham.  

Heat 14 Maiden 1025 metres (head, 2 ¼ lengths 1:02.3)

Irish Heart(3 f O'Reilly - Rehab) - Craig Grylls; settled off the pace in sixth, steadied to last approaching the home turn, travelled okay, and finished strongly nearer the rail for third. 

She was given time after sustaining a massive effort for third on debut in the Maiden 1000 metres earlier in the season at Tauherenikau, running home in a slick 32.3 for the last 600m - on a day when only stable-mate Witchery (Savabeel) went quicker (32.2).

From the draft of Waikato Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, purchased by David Ellis for $135,000, she is owned by the Te Akau Irish Heart Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

TE TEKO - FRIDAY 26 APRIL

Weather: fine, track: Slow7, rail: true

Heat 2 Open 1000 metres (½ a length, 1 ½ lengths 1:01.4)

Conclusion(5 g Fully Fledged - Every Reason) - Joe Kamaruddin; steadied to fifth after being first out, raced keenly, and looked good getting home without urging for fifth. 

With two wins and three seconds from nine starts, he trialled well in preparation to resume on Wednesday 8 May at Matamata. 

Heat 6 2YO 800 metres (½ a length, ¾ lengths 48.3)

Burgundy Rose(2 f Burgundy - Paraiba) - Opie Bosson; was back and wide, improved three wide with cover and kept up a good gallop to win narrowly but well. 

Owned by the Te Akau Roses Are Red Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she pleased the rider and could either race or trial again over 1000 metres.

Heat 7 2YO 800 metres (½ a length, ¾ lengths 48.4)

Phantom Witness(2 g Star Witness - Fandom) - Opie Bosson; travelled keenly in third with cover and stretched out strongly for second. 

Having his first trial, he was purchased by David Ellis for $60,000 at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm and is owned by the Te Akau Phantom Witness Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). Strengthening his performance, trial winner Whiskey Neat (Denman) has won two of his three starts and was a beaten favourite in the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) won by Te Akau trained filly Probabeel (Savabeel).

Heat 8 2YO 800 metres (1 ¾ lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 48.6)

Super Sid(2 g Rip Van Winkle - Half Bak) - Opie Bosson; was keen to go faster off a wide gate, pulled away to lead and kept up a strong gallop to win well. 

Having his first trial, he was purchased by David Ellis for $152,500 at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Lenarch Lodge, and is owned by the Te Akau Game Breaker Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). He looks an exciting prospect for next season and will now have a spell. 

Heat 10 2YO 1000 metres (long neck, 2 ¾ lengths 1:00.9)

Lilikoi (2 f Charm Spirit - Barbadine) - Opie Bosson; was firmly held just off the pace in a compact field, drawn widest rounding the home turn and quickened up nicely into second.

In training for Sir Peter Vela, she won a trial impressively in January at Matamata, before racing in tight quarters over 1000 metres in February at Te Aroha, and could race again on Wednesday 8 May at Matamata.

Royal Guard (2 g Charm Spirit - Her Royal Highness) - Cameron Lammas; travelled well held in the trail, saved ground on the inner and not extended in finishing third. 

Bred and owned by Windsor Park Stud, he is a half-brother to stable-mate and winner six races, including the Hawkesbury Cup (Gr. 3, 1600m), Kingsguard (Rip Van Winkle), from impressive the stakes' winning mare Her Royal Highness (Volksraad). He will now spell in preparation for his three-year-old season.

David Ellis purchased the yearling half-sister by Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor) for $110,000 from the Windsor Park draft at the Karaka Book 1 Sale this year. 

Heat 11 2YO 1000 metres (1 ½ lengths, 2 lengths 1:01.1)

Lucky Shark (2 g Darci Brahma - Shamardal Luck) - Cameron Lammas; travelled on the bridle near the pace and a touch green in the straight he ran home for fourth. 

Well known to Te Akau, his half-brother Shocking Luck (Shocking) was trained in the stable at Matamata, finishing second in the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m) before winning the Rough Habit Plate (Gr. 3, 2000m) at Doomben racecourse in Brisbane, and being sold to Hong Kong. 

Owned by Matt Allenby, Deborah Charlton, Michael Clemenger, Matt Fitzgerald, Steve & Kristy Mace, Chris Russell, Jason Simcocks, and Dave Taylor, he will now spell and has the makings of a nice middle distance horse as a three-year-old. 

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