Te Aroha Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses on Tuesday 27 October at Te Aroha. The footing was rated Good, rail true. 

Heat 3 Open 1200 metres (neck, 1 ¼ lengths 1:12.0)

Tavis Star (4 m Tavistock - Megapins) - Mahammad Hanafi (below); worked across to lead, travelled easily under the light weight and kept up a solid gallop without urging for second.

Heat 4 Open 1000 metres (½ a length, head 59.7)

Maestro (5 g Encosta De Lago - Miss Scarlatti) - Ed Zac-Syed (below); was rearward over the sprint trip, last and standing the leader ten lengths at the 600m but made up plenty of ground near the rail to finish close up in sixth.

Smashing (4 m Pins - Ruud Van Slaats) - Cameron Lammas (below); a natural front runner, she was held together in front before being collared at the 200m without being asked for an effort.

Heat 5 Open 1000 metres (4 lengths, head 59.0)

Point Percy (4 g Sir Percy - Bankonher) - Cameron Lammas (below); was posted wide at the back of the field, standing the leader ten lengths at the 600m and flushed out on straightening he ran on without urging for sixth.

Heat 6 Open 1000 metres (½ a length, 2 lengths 59.6)

Scandinavian (4 g Dylan Thomas - Blanche Amelia) - Mahammad Hanafi (below); easy from the barriers and ten lengths off the pace at the 600, he tracked up behind runners in the straight and after going through the line solidly proceeded to roll on in good staying manner.

Heat 7 Maiden 4YO & Up 1000 metres (2 ¼ lengths, ½ a length 59.7)

Cathedral Cove (4 g Zabeel - Thistle Cove) - Jasmine Fawcett (below); from barrier one he was slowly away before improving to three back on the inner and worked home well between runners over the concluding stages for sixth. A real staying type, it was a good effort over the sprint trip.

Heat 10 2YO 800 metres (head, 6 lengths 47.1)

2 f Minstrel Court - Paixanito - Cameron Lammas (below & main); went forward from a wide gate to contest the lead three wide, before easing just off them at the 600m and presented in the straight she quickened to challenge the 250m and kept up a strong gallop to win.

Lucy Wyldstyle (2 f Savabeel - Lego) - Michael McNab (below); settled just off the pace in fourth on the rail. She cornered well and tracked up on inner with a solid finish to photo for third. It was a very good first trial performance.

Heat 11 2YO 800 metres (2 ½ lengths, 1 ½ lengths 46.5)

2 g Charge Forward - Catbird Kitty - Michael McNab (below); began smartly to co-lead on the inner and although headed at the 200m he kept up a strong gallop for second and carried on with good work through the line.

Ocean Rock (2 c Fastnet Rock - Ocean Pearl) - Cameron Lammas (below); settled in fourth on the inner, four lengths off the first pair and wound up a solid finish in the straight for fourth. He looked good going through the line.

Heat 12 2YO 800 metres (½ a length, ½ a length 47.1)

Tiffany's Time (2 f Alamosa - Tinsel Time) - Michael McNab (below); received a lovely trail in third and produced into the clear three off at the 300m she sustained a strong finish for third in a professional first trial performance.

2 f Savabeel - Modern Lady - Jasmine Fawcett (below); got back on the inner and tracked up the fence in the straight, her work over the concluding stages was encouraging and she ran on strongly through the line.

Heat 13 2YO 800 metres (½ a length, 1 length 47.7)

Abloom (2 f Darci Brahma - Corsage) - Michael McNab (below); began well before steadying just off leaders. She tracked up a wall of horses in the straight, was required to switch wide in order for a run at the 150m and went through the line solidly in fifth.

Heat 14 2YO 800 metres (½ a length, 1 length 47.7)

Epic Tale (2 c Snitzel - Mini Tales) - Michael McNab (below); settled three back on the inner and ran quite wide when produced into the clear on straightening. From there, he worked home in the open for fifth and it appeared plenty of benefit would come with the experience.

Heat 15 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (3 ¼ lengths, head 46.8)

3 f Saperavi - Doyenne - Michael McNab (below); secured a perfect trail from barrier one, travelling easily. A staying type in the making she was unable to quicken when the pair ahead went for home, yet still rounded off solidly for fourth.

Heat 16 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (2 ¼ lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 47.2)

3 f High Chaparral - Star Affair - Cameron Lammas (below); worked across to be one off in fourth at the 600m, three lengths from the leaders, and pushed a little wide when bumped at the 300m she kept giving in tight quarters for sixth. Doing her best work through the line, it was good effort from a staying filly.

Heat 17 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (head, head 46.9)

3 f Saperavi - Paraiba - Michael McNab (below); jumped up when the gates opened, missing the start by five lengths, and did well after tacking on in the straight to finish as close as she did.

Heat 18 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (head, head 47.2)

Vinevale (3 f Flying Spur - Eden Valley) - Cameron Lammas; cruised along in the trail from barrier one, she was blocked in the straight before finally seeing some daylight one off the 100m and closed solidly on the rail for a close fifth in a very good first trial.