Te Akau Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses on Tuesday March 11 at Rotorua.
The footing was rated Dead4, with the rail out eight metres.

Heat 4 2YO 800 metres (1 length, 4 lengths 48.4)
2 f Saperavi - Zorina - Danielle Johnson; received a nice run fourth on the outer and ran home solidly for third.

Heat 5 2YO 800 metres (½ head, 1 ¼ lengths 48.5)
2 f Snitzel - Modave - Danielle Johnson - below; was urged along in fifth on the rail before picking up one off, behind horses, rounding the home turn. Angled clear on straightening, she quickened up appreciably to win with her ears pricked.

Heat 6 2YO 800 metres (head, 2 lengths 48.7)
Vive Le Difference (2 f Choisir - L'Artiste) - Danielle Johnson - below and main picture; travelled easily in fourth and once across heels into the clear at the 250 metres she let down with a good turn of foot and a late dive to almost grab the winner.

Heat 9 2YO 1000 metres (2 lengths, neck 59.7)
2 c Murtajill - Silent Smytzer - Danielle Johnson - below; tracked a line of three in fourth, camped on the two leaders from the 400 metres and he strode on to lead in the straight and won with plenty in hand.

Heat 10 2YO 1000 metres (1 length, ½ a length 1:01.09)
2 g Iffraaj - Kamahi - Alex Forbes - below; travelled on a nice rein in the trail and opting for a rails run in the straight he closed off strongly for a close third.

Heat 11 2YO 1000 metres (neck, 1 ½ lengths 1:00.59)
2 f Minstrel Court - La Conga - Alex Forbes - below; recovered to travel under a nice hold in fourth, after being tightened a touch at the start, she was clear to challenge on straightening and kept finding the line for third.

Heat 12 2YO 1000 metres (2 lengths, head 1:01.31)
2 g Mastercraftsman - Velvet and Satin - Alex Forbes; settling sixth of six, from the outside barrier, and seven lengths from the lead at the 600 metres, he worked home behind runners without a lot of room.

Heat 13 2YO 1000 metres (½ a head, 6 lengths 59.9)
Scandinavian (2 g Dylan Thomas - Blanche Amelia) - Alex Forbes - below; utilizing barrier one and shadowed on the lead by a horse to his outer, he was out paced in the straight over the sprint trip but fought well for fifth.

Heat 17 Open 1000 metres (1 ½ lengths, head 59.6)
Orinto (4 m Iffraaj - The Perfume Garden) - Alex Forbes; was sixth in the early stages before idling up behind runners near the home turn and worked home nicely for fifth in an easy trial outing.

King's Rock (3 c Fastnet Rock - Nureyev's Girl) - Daniel Miller; settled last of seven and while requiring far more ground he tracked up behind runners in the straight to be seen doing his best work on, and past, the line.

Heat 18 Open 1000 metres (¾ lengths, 2 lengths 59.3)
Urban Angel (5 m Savabeel - Tutuland) - Alex Forbes - below; was patiently ridden in fifth before tracking up on the bridle near the home turn and she held her position strongly in the run home.

Clos De Tart (4 m Darci Brahma - Rapid Kay) - Danielle Johnson - below; settled at the back of the field over the sprint trip, she was no match for the speedsters in front and will take good improvement from the outing.

Heat 19 Open 1000 metres (Neck, 2 lengths 1:01.94)
Equanimity (3 f More Than Ready - Insouciant) - Danielle Johnson - below second from left; began smartly from barrier one to trail on a steady tempo and quickened up on her own accord in the straight to win nicely.

Thrive (6 m Colombia - Trove) - Daniel Miller - above second from right; cleared the gates well to position second, in a gap from the leader, and after ranging nicely into the home straight she displayed plenty of vigour in running on strongly for third.

Heat 24 Maiden 1000 metres (neck, 3 lengths 59.6)
3 f Zabeel - Thistle Cove - Alex Forbes; steadied after jumping well to trail in fourth and while the sprint trip was too sharp she ran through the line nicely and worked on well past the post.

Heat 25 Open 1230 metres (¾ lengths, ½ a length 1:14.9)
Bronte Lass (5 m Stravinsky - Little Dorrit) - Daniel Miller; travelled under a hold camped just behind the pace and seizing on a gap one off the fence entering the straight she sprinted home to win very well.

Photos - Stacey Bridgman