Now that many of the very best horses are coming out to play we are regularly updating what’s happening at the trials right around the country. Here’s the latest installment.
The Rangiora Trials Wed 20th September
(Weather Fine but windy / Track Fast)
Tinkerbelle (2f What The Hill – Belle Galleon)
The Mark Jones trained half sister to top trotter Stent led and then did enough to hold out Bounce N Beyond with 24L to the rest. MR:2.10, 800m in 60.1, 400m in 28.6.
The latter was good enough to beat Wilma’s Boy in a recent Rangiora trial and that runner came out and won a 2yo trot by 9L at Addington on the 15th September.
Tinkerbelle qualified way back in early March where she dead-heated with High Step, now winning in Australia for her connections at Group level.
All these references add up to her being a major player in the upcoming 2yo specials. Its fair to say that the current crop of 2yo trotters is collectively one of the strongest ever !
Heart Throb (3c Sweet Lou – Justalittlebettor )
The Bob Butt trained colt was highlighted in this forum recently and put in another eye catching trials performance behind the explosive Rakero Rocket (another to be highlighted previously). The latter left a trailing spot a lap out to take control then turned the race into a procession winning officially by 18L, last 800m in 55.5, 400m in 26.8.
Heart Throb was only officially fifth but was last and some 15L from the runaway pacemaker at the 250m, brought to the outside, he made up many lengths to be in a photo for the minor placings, under little urging from his trainer/driver.
A Fine Patrick (2g Father Patrick – Harriet Of Mot)
The Edmonds trained 2yo went as well as her breeding might suggest being the first foal of her very talented dam (15 wins + $187k in stakes).
Driver John Dunn had her quite content to sit at the back of the bunch throughout before issuing a challenge in the straight and picking up her rivals with relative ease. The MR of 2:14.6 wasn’t overly quick but it was the way he came out wide and raced past his rivals that impressed onlookers. Yet another who qualified some time ago and yet another quality 2yo that will complicate the form puzzle come race day.
Masterly (4g Love You – Brilliant)
Formerly with Paul Nairn (4 wins from 14 starts) but now with part owner Bob Butt, the Love You gelding stepped beautifully and was soon in front then had little trouble holding his rivals at ‘arms length’, MR:2:08.7, 800m in 59.5, 400m in 29.4
Remembering he won the 3yo Sires Stakes championship at Alex Park by nearly 7L at Group 2 level and competed at Group 1 level against the best of his age, this fellow has a touch of class and with another year on him, could be a big mover amongst the Canterbury trotters.
Krug (5h Bettor’s Delight – Champagne Princess)
The Dalgety trained runner began well off 40m (2600m) to tag on to a four horse heat (Sweet Diamond made a mess of the stand and took no part in the trial) before being asked to improve a lap out, unfortunately pacemaker Celtic Spirit elected not to hand up and Krug was forced to race parked for the final 1200m,
On a quick half (800m) in 56.5, MR 2:03 (off the front mark), he fought on strongly to be 2L from the pacemaker/winner and now after 2 trials, he looks primed for his raceday resumption at Addington next week.
Lets remember that Krug at his best is a sub 1:50 miler !
Borrisokane (3g Sportswriter – Tristar Brigade)
The Regan Todd trained 3yo has won 2 from 10 raceday starts and on this day ran 3rd in the R50 & faster trial, 1L from winner but when the winner is Akuta and the runner up Self Assured, last 800m in 56.8, 400m in 27.8, one takes notice especially as he was making ground solidly over the final stages under his own steam. The stable keeps kicking goals and this bloke did run a sub 1:55 mile earlier in year at Wyndham and former trainer Bruce Negus thought enough of him as a 2yo to debut in the Group 2 Sapling Stakes. Not to be underestimated wherever he travels in the coming weeks.
Akuta led and was too good but Self Assured caught the eye coming on stylishly in the straight and was not pushed to get within a length of the winner.
Posh Painter (2f Terror To Love – Hanover Glory)
The Robbie Close trainer filly raced 4th in indian file before improving to lead 600m out and kept giving to win nicely, last 800m in 57.8, 400m in 28.5. The head wind was quite strong down the back at this time and this qualifying effort looked full of merit. The trainer also has a share in this one.
Winton Workouts Thursday 14th September
(Weather Fine Track Fast)
Raklou (2f Sweet Lou – Raksbet)
The smart 2yo, a winner of three from just four starts, was back from her spell running fourth in behind Captain Tom (R35 to R66 pace) who led over the final lap and stayed on too well for his rivals in a 2:03.4MR, 800m in 59.0, 400m in 28.6.
Raklou was not pulled out in the run home by trainer Peter Hunter after racing back in the six-horse field and looked to have more to give.
Based on what she showed in her first campaign, she will be ultra competitive in the 2yo filly specials coming up over the next few months.
Mallory Maquire (2f Art Major – Miranda Maguire)
Trained by Alister Black, the unqualified filly raced in a learners heat but it was the way she finished that suggested she might have a future when she gets to the races. ‘Mallory’ trailed early but lost her place as a couple of runners went rough in the running, well back starting the last 500m, she came very wide on final turn then collared the leader in the final 50m under her own steam for young driver Riley Black. 800m in 59.6, 400m in 30.3
She is a 3rd foal half sister to a nice maiden in Lewey Maguire (trained by Telfers) and Sonny Maguire now the winner of three in Queensland.
Pukekohe Workouts Friday 14th September
(Weather Showery Track Slushy)
The Surfer (2g Downbytheseaside – Styx On)
Another of the Telfer 2yo fillies Seafield Rose in the hands of Alicia Harrison sped out to lead and kept going too well for her rivals, nearly 3L to the good at the line. 800m in 58.2, 400m in 28.4
The only runner to make any headway over the final 600m was the Donnelly trained The Surfer (3rd) who made up good ground from well back for driver David Butcher. He also qualified back in April where he ran a 2:02MR at Cambridge and has some quality breeding behind him as well.
Wyndham Workouts Saturday 16th September
(Weather Fine Track Fast)
Falcon’s Watch (4g He’s Watching – Touch Of Rose)
The Ross Wilson-trained one race winner trailed three deep mostly before mounting a challenge around the final bend and was able to finish strongly and clear of his rivals at the business end, cutting the 2400 mobile out in a 2:02.8MR, last 800m in 57.2, 400m in 28.8.
Formerly trained by Nicky Chilcott where he was a winner at Alexandra Park, he has been given a good spell and this run suggested he could turn the poor formline around at short notice.
Cambridge Workouts Saturday 16th September
Weather Fine Track Fast
Shez Bella (3f Pegasus Spur – Topnotch Dream)
Trained by the Rogerson/Ferguson partnership and already placed at Group 1 level, the two win raceday winner started here against three pacers in a non winners mobile and after leading, came clear over the final stages to win by 3L in a 2:03.8 MR, 800m in 58.6, 400m in 28.3.
She went close to winning her recent seasonal debut at Auckland, her first start back since running 6th back in May in the Northern Oaks and is bred to get better, being a half to She Reigns (14 wins) and Gaz Man (6 wins)
Motukarara Workouts Saturday 16th September
Weather Overcast Track Firm (Grass track)
Maxwell Edison (3g Majestic Son – Lucy Again)
The Coaster Howe trotter was good enough to win as a 2yo at Ashburton beating Krackaling and then was given his chance at Group 1 level at Addington before the form fell away.
The most impressive part of this effort was the 27 sec last 400m on the grass after starting off 10m behind against three rivals in the R35 & faster trot. The trainer has some time for ‘Maxwell’ and his patience could be rewarded sooner than later.
Quinn (2g Downbytheseaside – Vengance)
Word is that trainer Bruce Negus thinks a lot of Quinn and it was the trainer who hopped in the cart to steer his charge to an impressive win over 3 rivals, last 800m in 61.0, 400m in 27.0
He qualified way back in April at Ashburton but has been given plenty of time to fill into his frame by the astute horseman.
He is definitely one to paste away as we wait for that raceday debut.
