Te Akau Waipa Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses on Tuesday May 13 at Te Awamutu.
The footing was rated Slow8, with the rail out twelve metres.

Heat 3 2YO 850 metres (4 lengths, ¾ lengths 54.3)
2 f Saperavi - Patient - Matt Cameron; jumped away well and shared the pace three off the rail. While a little bit green, she held her position well and was just closed out late to finish third.

Heat 4 2YO 850 metres (¾ lengths, neck 54.9)
2 g Saperavi - Paerangi - Matt Cameron; lost four lengths when jumping in the air as the gates opened, but he improved near the rail and across heels in the straight he ran on nicely to finish third.

Heat 5 2YO 850 metres (1 ½ lengths, ½ head 54.4)
2 g Saperavi - Eclectic Heights - Matt Cameron; jumped away well to share the lead on the outer but lost his position when squeezed up at the 100 metres.

Heat 6 2YO 850 metres (4 lengths, 1 ¼ lengths 55.3)
Opulent (2 f Keeper - Silk Slipper) - Matt Cameron - main picture; was allowed to find her feet, settling second last and five lengths off the lead. She tracked up four wide around the turn and once balanced she quickened up nicely to finish second.

Heat 7 2YO 850 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 1 length 54.0)
Storm Trooper (2 g Tavistock - Shock) - Matt Cameron - pictured below; jumped away well from barrier one to lead, travelling nicely on the bridle and kicked on straightening to win well.

Heat 14 Maiden 850 metres (½ head, 2 lengths 54.6)
Jewels Gift (3 f Stravinsky - Jesmonds Gift) - Matt Cameron; shared the pace before easing out of a speed dual and left without a run behind horses at the 250 metres she went to the line untested.

Heat 29 Maiden 1400 metres (neck, head 1:32.4)
Highly Likely (3 g High Chaparral - Starrinka) - Mick Dee; jumped away well from a wide gate before being restrained to the rear and improving wide to within three lengths on straightening he ran home strongly to win.

Heat 30 Maiden 1400 metres (head, ½ head 1:32.3)
3 g Redoute's Choice - Lady's Delight - Mick Dee; appreciated the slow track conditions to settle handily in fourth and fought hard to the line for second.

Picture credit - Stacey Bridgman