Te Akau Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses on Tuesday September 30 at Te Teko.  The footing was rated Slow7, with the rail out three metres.

Heat 4 2YO 600 metres (4 lengths, long neck 34.9)
2 f Thorn Park - Squall - Michael Coleman (right); drew the outside of eight runners and after beginning well to race handy to the pace, but wide, she kept up a game run for fourth.

2 f Starcraft - Absolute Faith - Matt Cameron (below); remained back in running and held her action together in a satisfactory first educational trial.

Heat 5 2YO 600 metres (Dead-heat, ½ a lengths 35.4)
2 f Lookin At Lucky - Highland Lights - Matt Cameron (below); travelling wide from an outside gate, she ranged four wide into the straight although through the line just off runners she was close up.

Heat 7 2YO 800 metres (head, head 47.1)
3 f Encosta De Lago - Grand Echezeaux - Matt Cameron (below); began well to position fourth on the inner and she worked home nicely nearest to the rail, held together, for fourth.

Heat 8 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (½ head, 2 lengths 47.4)
3 f Red Giant - Mantles Princess - Matt Cameron (below); worked up handily from a wide gate and a staying type in the making she found the sprint trip too short.

Heat 9 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (long head, ½ a length 48.1)
3 f Postponed - Promissory - Matt Cameron (below blue colours); was out well to travel on pace outside the leader, she kept giving to hold an advantage in the straight and changed stride near the line for a game win.

Heat 10 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (½ a length, 1 ½ lengths 47.9)
Auriol (3 f Flying Spur - America's Idol) - Matt Cameron (below); let find her feet and five lengths off the pace at the 600 metres, she tracked up near the rail and went through the line like a filly looking to go considerably further.

Heat 11 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (3 ½ lengths, neck 47.4)
Realize (3 g Redoute's Choice - Rationalize) - Danielle Johnson (below); settled three back on the inner, angled across heels to the outside rounding the bend and worked home solidly for fifth.

3 f Tavistock - Macchiato - Matt Cameron (below right); flushed wide rounding the home bend, from three back on the outer, she kept up a good gallop to finish sixth.

Heat 12 Maiden 4YO & Up 800 metres (Dead-heat, neck 47.8)
4 g Savabeel - Greensleeves - Matt Cameron (below); jumped away smartly from a wide to cross and co-lead on the inner. In a duel with his rival throughout, he put in determinedly to dead-heat for first.

Heat 17 Maiden 4YO & Up 1000 metres (nose, 2 ½ lengths 1:00.7)
Seline (4 m Pentire - Dion) - Cameron Lammas (below); settled fifth, four lengths off the pace at the 600 metres. She improved to third at the entrance to the straight and worked home solidly for third.

Heat 18 Maiden 4YO & Up 1000 metres (1 length, ½ a length 1:02.0)
Maestro (4 g Encosta De Lago - Miss Scarlatti) - Cameron Lammas; received a nice trip fourth on the outer. He tracked up behind runners in the straight and stretched out nicely late in the piece for fourth.

Heat 20 Maiden 1200 metres (1 ¾ lengths, ¾ lengths 1:13.4)
3 f Saperavi - Encosta Lotta - Cameron Lammas (below); travelled evenly back in the field and five lengths off the pace at the 600 metres she tracked up behind runners.

One of the very best sights on the day however was seeing Cameron Lammas back from injury - we are so thrilled to have him back!  Cameron has been back riding trackwork for Te Akau after a long injury lay-off and Tuesday was his first foray back to the trials.

Photo credit - Stacey Bridgman