NZ Trial Watcher has cast the eye over last week’s key New Zealand trial heats, highlighting the standout performances and the horses worth following from Taupo and Foxton.
TAUPO TRIALS 17/03 (Soft 5)
Heat 2 – 2YO – Catchweight – 900m (55.93)
1st: 2y c GOING PUBLIC (Ritchie & Murray)
2nd: 2y f VITALIZE (A Forsman)
3rd: 2y c CONCURRENCE (Walker & Bergerson)
Summary: Dirty Work colt GOING PUBLIC followed up his slick trial win at Avondale with another forward showing, with the track set-up to suit him. He’s going the right way towards a winning debut. The fourth-placed HOULIHAN also impressed coming from the rear, a filly by Proisir with a good action and one to follow from the Wexford stable.
Horses To Follow: GOING PUBLIC, HOULIHAN
Heat 8 – 3YO – Catchweight – 900m (54.02)
1st: 3y f ANGEL’S BREW (P Gerard)
2nd: 3y g SODERBALM (G Old)
3rd: 3y f BRUTAL REALITY (C Isdale)
Summary: Runaway winner ANGEL’S BREW has speed to burn. Small and weak in her first prep, she knocked up on debut in a stakes race over 1200m. If the stable can find a maiden over 1000m, she can win quickly.
Horse To Follow: ANGEL’S BREW
Heat 9 – MDN – Catchweight – 900m (54.12)
1st: 3y f TIANTAI (K & B Kelso)
2nd: 3y g FLOWERS EMBER (S Crawford)
3rd: 5y g BOLD PRINT (C Cole)
Summary: Winner TIANTAI looks set to improve in her second prep off the back of this trial. A daughter of Tivaci, she’s a big filly with a big action and won the heat in fast time. Worth respecting when she resumes.
Horse To Follow: TIANTAI
Heat 11 – OPEN – Catchweight – 1100m (1.08.07)
1st: 5y g FORCE OF NATURE (A Forsman)
2nd: 5y g BEAST OF BURDEN (C Ormsby)
3rd: 4y m CAPTURED BY LOVE (Walker & Bergerson)
Summary: FORCE OF NATURE dominated from the front as expected. CAPTURED BY LOVE worked home well from last, but the eye-catcher was LATRELLE, who hit the line strongly and looks ready to bounce back for the in-form Cody Cole stable.
Horse To Follow: LATRELLE
FOXTON TRIALS 17/03 (Good 4)
Heat 5 – OPEN – Catchweight – 1000m (1.02.93)
1st: 3y f PLATINUM DIAMOND (L Latta)
2nd: 3y g DANCING SHADOW (K & S Gray)
3rd: 5y g BUNDY (K Myers)
Summary: PLATINUM DIAMOND nears a return for her second preparation after a dominant wet-track campaign last winter. She was pushed along but held them comfortably to the line.
Horse To Follow: PLATINUM DIAMOND
Heat 12 – MDN 2YO&UP – Catchweight – 1200m (1.18.93)
1st: 2y f VAHVAY (P & T Didham)
2nd: 6y m BASSLOCK (M Oulaghan)
3rd: 3y c PUNCHING (K Myers)
Summary: VAHVAY continues to show promise. After chasing home Lara Antipova in stakes grade, this was a soft trial to have her ready for her next target.
Horse To Follow: VAHVAY
