Te Akau Te Teko Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses on Tuesday August 4 at Te Teko.  The footing was rated Slow9, with the rail out fifteen metres.

The going was ideal for first up trials, while the weather held clear overhead and, to a horse, the whole team trialled very pleasingly.

Heat 1 Open 1020 metres (¾ lengths, head 1:02.2)

Vive La Difference (4 m Choisir - L'Artiste) - Matt Cameron (below); was easy off the gate to settle three back on the outer. She was clicked up to range in centre track at the 300 metres and went clear nicely over the latter stages for a smart win.

Flaming (4 m Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - Cameron Lammas (below); went forward easily from the outside barrier (7) to second and travelled in hand throughout the straight to finish close up in fifth.

Heat 2 Open 1020 metres (long head, 3 lengths 1:02.6)

Hushed (5 g Don Eduardo - Danewhisper) - Ed Zac-Syed (below); found second easily in running. He was camped behind a couple of horses turning for home and poked into clear air on the inside at the 200 metres to round off in good staying fashion for fifth.

Heat 3 3YO 1020 metres (1 length, 1 ½ lengths 1:02.4)

Special Memories (3 f Fastnet Rock - Memories of You) - Cameron Lammas (below); was steadied to the last of five runners and drawn to centre track in the run home she quickened under her own steam into second and rolled on solidly through the line.

Xtravagant (3 c Pentire - Axiom) - Matt Cameron (below right); jumped away well to co-lead under a hold from barrier one and bowled home nicely in third without being urged to extend.

Heat 4 3YO 1020 metres (head, 2 lengths 1:03.7)

Scrutinize (3 c Savabeel - Legs) - Matt Cameron (main picture & below); settled fifth of five from the outside gate. He stood the leader four lengths at the 600 metres and circling widest he quickened nicely, exuding a good action, for a close second.

Heat 5 Open 1200 metres (head, head 1:16.8)

Ekraarstatic (5 m Ekraar - Nugget Point) - Reese Jones (below); began well from barrier one to trail. She stayed on nicely in the slower going on the inside as horses, including the high-class winner Soriano, arrived on the scene wider out.

Imperium (4 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal) - Cameron Lammas (below); settled back on the inner over the sprint trip, working home in staying fashion behind the body of the field and rolled on nicely through the line.

Heat 6 2YO 630 metres (nose, 6 lengths 37.6)

2 g Charge Forward - Catbird Kitty - Cameron Lammas (below); jumped out smartly to cross over in second and he showed a good action in centre track for third.

2 f Darci Brahma - Corsage - Matt Cameron (below); steadied off the outside gate (8), she was switched to the inner at the 300 metres and making ground went through the line solidly in fifth.

Heat 7 2YO 630 metres (1 ¼ lengths, ½ a length 38.9)

2 f Saperavi - Primo Quest - Cameron Lammas (below); jumped away smartly to travel alongside the leader and continued finding plenty in the straight to finish second.

2 g Pour Moi - Madam Stravinsky - Matt Cameron (below); tucked in behind the first three in running and held his own nicely in the straight to cross the line in fifth.

Heat 8 Maiden 3YO 830 metres (½ a head, 1 length 50.6)

Esprit De Corps (3 g Bel Esprit - Vercors) - Cameron Lammas (below); worked forward from a wide gate to travel keenly in third, he quickened into contention at the 300 metres and sustained his run to win well.

Thetruthisoutthere (3 f Starcraft - Absolute Faith) - Reese Jones (below); jumped away smartly before steadying outside the leader and showed to have strengthened nicely in maintaining a solid gallop in crossing the line virtually on terms with the winner.

Heat 9 Maiden 3YO 830 metres (½ a head, 1 length 50.0)

Vintage Verdot (3 g Pins - Petit Verdot) - Craig Grylls (below); began well to settle nicely in the trail. He was drawn across heels to get home in centre track on straightening and worked through the line in good fashion just behind the leading division.

Fastnet Fire (3 f Fastnet Rock - Dragon's Tail) - Matt Cameron (below); was pushed up to position handily on the outer and a staying filly in the making she found the sprint trip horses a touch sharp over the concluding stages.

Heat 10 Maiden 3YO 830 metres (4 lengths, 2 ½ lengths 49.2)

Gardenier (3 f Rip Van Winkle - Miss Montjeu) - Cameron Lammas (below); tracked along sixth in running and worked home nicely to the inside of runners in the straight, holding her position through the line, and looking for more distance.

Heat 11 Maiden 3YO 830 metres (nose, 2 lengths 49.3)

Lady Pinot (3 f Starspangledbanner - Madame Echezeaux) - Cameron Lammas (below); speared through to co-lead in centre track and held together she quickened up in a home straight duel to cross the line on terms in a nose defeat.

3 g Castledale - Elianto - Reese Jones (below); got back third last but made good progress in the straight and went through the line strongly.

Heat 12 Maiden 3YO 830 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 1 length 50.2)

Love Actually (3 f Swiss Ace - Just Platonic) - Matt Cameron (below); was first out of the gates to travel boldly on the outside of the leader. She kept up a strong gallop for second and continued on nicely after the line.

3 g Paco Boy - L'Accord - Ed Zac-Syed (below); got back in running, six lengths off the pace at the 600 metres and made ground into midfield over the final stages.

Heat 13 Maiden 3YO 830 metres (½ a head, ½ a length 51.2)

Our Abbadean (3 f Lookin at Lucky - Highland Lights) - Michael McNab (below); went forward from a wide barrier to take up a handy position. She kept up a determined finish under minimal urging for fifth.

3 g Postponed - Promissory - Ed Zac-Syed (below); steadied to the rear from barrier one, he stood the leader six lengths when angling to the outside passing the 600 metres and displayed a good action when chiming in with a solid finish widest on the track.

Heat 14 Maiden 3YO 830 metres (½ a head, ½ a length 51.2)

Beacon of Hope (3 g Fastnet Rock - Randaroo) - Michael McNab (below); began well to trail from barrier one. He entered into a duel soon after straightening and never flinched to the inside of his rival for a game win.

Princess Davone (3 f Iffraaj - Nikey Davone) - Matt Cameron (below); steadied off the outside gate (9), she tracked up on the bridle wide out, from five lengths off the pace at the 600 metres, and made up eye-catching ground for third.

Heat 15 Maiden 3YO 830 metres (½ a length, 3 lengths 49.7)

Risque (3 f Darci Brahma - So Explicit) - Matt Cameron (below); began smartly from a wide gate before tucking in for cover across the top and quickening up widest on straightening she ran home solidly, with her ears pricked, for a close second.

Heat 18 Maiden 3YO 1020 metres (neck, 4 lengths 1:02.4)

Splurge (3 c Savabeel - Splashing Out) - Opie Bosson (below); settled into a nice spot fourth at the 800 metres before ranging to challenge on straightening and gave the rider a good feel when running home strongly for a close second.

3 g Sakhee's Secret - Spin ‘n Grin - Cameron Lammas (below); steadied to settle sixth and made good ground wide out in the straight for fourth.

Heat 19 Maiden 3YO 1020 metres (head, ½ a length 1:03.4)

Amperage (3 c Zabeel - Miss Zapper) - Opie Bosson (below); ranged up three wide to second at the 600 metres and kept up to his work he responded as required to finish virtually on terms with the winner.

Zambezi Warrior (3 g Pentire - Zambezi) - Michael McNab (below); trailed fifth on the inner from barrier one and worked up on the inside of runners for a close fifth, in a very nice trial performance.

Heat 20 Maiden 3YO 1020 metres (nose, 3 lengths 1:02.7)

Duchess Kate (3 f Savabeel - Royal Prize) - Cameron Lammas (below); went forward to post three wide from the outside barrier (8), she was held together while finishing off strongly and crossed the line on terms with the winner.

Heat 21 Maiden 3YO 1020 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 2 ½ lengths 1:02.9)

Interstellar (3 f Shamoline Warrior - Amathea) - Matt Cameron (below); was away well to travel easily outside the leader before taking over at the 300 metres and in a well-balanced display she strode clear for a smart win.

Heat 22 Maiden 3YO 1020 metres (1 ½ lengths, 2 ½ lengths 1:03.1)

Love Triangle (3 f Encosta De Lago - Love Diamonds) - Matt Cameron (below); idled along in fifth before gliding up wide out under a hold on straightening and she accelerated clear without urging for a classy win.

Heat 23 Maiden 3YO 1020 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 1:02.8)

Rocksun (3 c Fastnet Rock - Beyond the Sunset) - Matt Cameron (below); bided his time off the first three in running, passing the 600 metres six lengths adrift, but once drawn to the outside in the straight he bounded home with a good action and made up plenty of ground for second.