NZ Trial Watcher has been busy reviewing the latest trial action, with Foxton and Taupo providing several runners worth adding to the blackbook.
FOXTON TRIALS 13/10 (Soft 5)
Heat 6 – OPEN – Catchweight – 1000m (1.02.64)
1st – 7y g MASSIVE PRINCE trained by F Auret
2nd – 6y m RED LADY trained by K & S Gray
3rd – 6y m BLUE JEANIE trained by B Newman
Summary: “Speed runners dominated the trial, two horses back in the field made ground under quieter rides, BLUE JEANIE is a Satono Aladdin mare who flies with blinkers on, they’ve been off her at the trials and both trials have been excellent which suggests she’s going well. UNUSUAL INVADER is a very talented two-win mare and lightly raced, ridden cold in her return trial, look for her to fire on a big track such as Trentham in the coming weeks.”
Horse To Follow: 6y m BLUE JEANIE & 5y m UNUSUAL INVADER
Heat 7 – OPEN – Catchweight – 1000m (1.01.00)
1st – 5y m ONLY THE LONELY trained by B Newman
2nd – 6y m NOT SO UNUSUAL trained by F Auret
3rd – 7y g COOPER trained by K & S Gray
Summary: “Hard to miss the 7YO gelding COOPER under double wraps from the jockey Bruno Queiroz, a fast horse at his best when able to lead or sit OSL as his record suggests and the team look to have him ready to fire early this season.”
Horse To Follow: 7y g COOPER
Heat 11 – MDN 4YO&UP – Catchweight – 1000m (1.01.81)
1st – 4y g BUCKFAST ABBEY trained by B Newman
2nd – 4y g DARLIGHT PRINCE trained by F Auret
3rd – 4y m YOSHITOSHI trained by K & S Gray
Summary: “Bryce Newman’s unraced 4YO gelding BUCKFAST ABBEY has improved noticeably from his last campaign early this year and now appears set to make his debut with this his 2nd trial win of the preparation. A forward-going type without any quirks, he should be hard to beat in maiden grade when he steps out. The 2nd horse DARLIGHT PRINCE has race experience and ability, we’ll see the best of him at 1600m.”
Horse To Follow: 4y g BUCKFAST ABBEY
TAUPO TRIALS 15/10 (Soft 6)
Heat 5 – MDN 4YO&UP – Catchweight – 1000m (56.09)
1st – 4y g FERNWEH trained by D Guy
2nd – 4y g SON OF FIFTH trained by G Old
3rd – 4y m POISE trained by C Cole
Summary: “More a track gallop than trial as this heat was run slowly by the winner FERNWEH under double wraps throughout, he travelled strongly and has speed and one to note as a former Aussie maiden galloper with admirable efforts in NSW prior to arrival.”
Horses To Follow: 4y g FERNWEH
Heat 7 – OPEN – Catchweight – 1100m (1.05.53)
1st – 4y m PASSIFLORA trained by Ritchie & Ramsay
2nd – 4y m VANILLA STORM trained by A Forsman
3rd – 5y g ON THE TOWN trained by S Marsh
Summary: “Fast, one-dimensional mare is PASSIFLORA who hasn’t always been ridden to use her best asset, which is speed. The ear covers removed for this trial, she pinged the gates and kept rolling to win a very fast heat over 1100m by seven lengths, leaving a quality field in her dust. Her form reads excellent in strong races as a 3YO filly and being ridden to advantage will be the key to any further success.”
Horse To Follow: 4y m PASSIFLORA
