The Trials Report – Six of the Best

These horses have trialled pleasingly in recent weeks and this week (19/2/26) they head back to the racetrack.

Midfrew Lando (5g Sweet Lou – Lucasta Midfrew) Tr. A Donnelly

Won a workout at Cambridge (9/1/26) then won a qualifying trial at Pukekohe (22/1/26) where he showed gate speed to lead and kept going strongly to keep three rivals at bay on a showery day. MR:2:05.8, 800m in 61.7, 400m in 31.0. 
Chose to debut at Auckland (6/2/26) and was well supported but after being eased to the rear, found no gaps over the final stages to challenge the placings behind Ms Collins in a 1:59.6MR. Second up at Cambridge this Thursday in Race 3 and has copped a very nice draw at two against 7 rivals, three of whom are debutantes. Has taken his time to get to the races but dam has only had the 5 foals and three of them have been handy winners.

Arma Hunter (4g American Ideal – Arma Courage) Tr. R & J Dunn

Off the scene since winning way back in March 2025 where he beat the smart Arthur Shelby (5 wins in 8 starts) in only his second race day start. A horse with a reputation, he has been back at the Rangiora trials during February and recorded a couple of nice placings, the most recent at Rangiora (11/2/26) where he raced sixth of 8 in single file before being asked to improve without cover from the 600m. Strode up purposefully under his own steam and had plenty left when outpointed by Rack’em Up who had enjoyed the trail. Resumes this Thursday at Addington in Race 2 where he has drawn wide in a race restricted to Junior Drivers. Stable driver Riley Harrison drove in the above trial and one assumes she will get this race drive as well. Major danger will be the unbeaten Down A Hundy who ran a very creditable fourth in the same trial after blowing the standing start. The latter was never pulled out by Gemma Thornley in the run home.

Sonofmistery (3c Sweet Lou – Luna Danza) Tr. S & A Telfer

Smart colt who won his third race from just 10 starts back in early January at Omakau after showing gate speed to lead and had too much class for his opposition on that occasion. Taken back to the trials at Addington (4/2/26) and came off the trail there to nab a pace-making Arafura in a 1:56.7MR, last 800m in 56.2 in a three-horse heat. At Addington on Thursday night in Race 4 and although drawn out wide, expected to show that gate speed again and likely to take a power of beating. Of course, he is a half brother to millionaire pacer and multiple WA group 1 winner Mister Smartee (19 wins and 1:53) and already a Group 2 winner as a 2yo himself.

Better Knuckle Up (5g Bettor’s Delight – Bare Knuckle) Tr. Purdon/Phelan

Freshened since a last start fourth behind Republican Party in the Auckland Cup (31/12/25) but got back to the Pukekohe workouts (3/2/26) where he led and outpointed last week’s winner Sooner The Better after leading in a two-horse heat. MR:2:01.3, 800m in 56.8. Resumes this Friday night at Auckland in Race 2 where he has scored a major draw advantage over his two main rivals Rubira and stablemate Sooner The Better. Earlier in his career he was a course and distance winner over the mile, cutting the trip out in 1:53. Looks like a very strong chance with Tony Herlihy to drive.

Allamericanlover (3c Bettor’s Delight – Goodlookingbabe) Tr. S & A Telfer

Very smart 2YO of last season winning three times and just missed winning the Sires Stakes final at Addington on Cup day behind Freeze Frame. Has been trialling through Jan/Feb in readiness for a resumption to his 3yo season including a win at Auckland (6/2/26) where he came out of the trail to dispatch stablemate Iron Brigade in a 2:00MR, 800m in 57.0. That resumption is this Friday at Auckland (Race 4) where he has the outside of the gate in a preferential draw as the highest rated horse in the field. Fresh up record impressive and top stable driver Tim Williams going north to do the steering.

Premier Arden (3f Tall Dark Stranger – Arden’s Rose) Tr. S & A Telfer

Sneaks back down to Wyndham on Friday (Race 2) for her debut against other non win Fillies and Mares and her chances have been greatly enhanced by securing the pole draw over 1800m. Has run a couple of nice placings at the Rangiora trials in February, the last on 11/2/26 where she trailed three deep in a 6 horse field, got held up around final turn, then finished off strongly once into clear air to nab third. MR:2:05.5, 800m in 60.3. Qualified way back in March 2025 so her connections have been very patient and from her draw that patience could well be handsomely rewarded. Stable Junior Driver Nikita Burton will have the responsibility of guiding her through her debut.