The Trials Report – Six of the Best

These horses have trialled pleasingly in recent weeks and this week (25/3/26) they head back to the racetrack.

Lulana (3f American Ideal – Lenize) Tr. A Donnelly

Didn’t help herself with a costly break at the races (5/3/25) when fifth of 7 behind Nymbal but the start before that she was a very good second behind Iron Mike Tyson at Auckland and before that a workout winner at Pukekohe (10/2/26) where she led and held out Dream Light in a 2:05MR, 800m in 58.2, 400m in 27.5. Goes to Cambridge this Thursday (Race 1) for career start number 4. Her manners have resulted in her being placed on the unruly behind the mobile but that might be a blessing. Her dam won two of only 3 starts and Lulana is her first foal. The second dam won 8 races and four of her 5 foals have been winners. This filly is good enough to leave maidens at short notice. Andre Poutama takes the drive.

Nazare (3g Downbytheseaside – Amazon Lily) Tr. A Donnelly

Took on Jumal and other top 3YOs last week and had little chance to shine in the Alabar Classic (Group 2). Faces a major drop in class this week at Cambridge in Race 7 where he has a very handy draw to use. The form is better than it looks after running a very nice second behind Alecto at the Pukekohe workouts (10/2/26) in a 2:02.1MR, 800m in 56.5, 400m in 26.5. Stablemate Signman third in the above workout nearly 5L away and he got within a 1/2L of Jumal in the Group 2. The veteran of just 4 starts to date but already a 1:57.4MR winning 2YO from last season. Has the breeding to go much further. Dam won 6 and nearly $100k.

Jaccka Elvis (4g Captain Crunch – Elva Jaccka) Tr. B Gray

Very tidy resumption at Wyndham (19/3/26) where he came on wide out from last for fifth behind Always A Menace in what was his first run back since June 2025. Before that run, was active at Southern workouts through Feb/March, the last behind Always Ticking and Side Hustle who dead-heated (6/3/26) in a 2:03.4MR, 800m in 57.5, 400m in 26.6. Likely to have derived plenty of benefit from his first up effort and now goes to Winton this Thursday in Race 6 where he has drawn handily in a mobile 2400m. Junior driver Daniel Anderson gets to drive a horse that he knows well. Dam was handy winning five times. 

Mystery Creek (3g Bettor’s Delight – Hakuwai Creek) Tr. H & A Cullen

Big run to get very close to stablemate Ashley Frank in an Addington trial (11/3/26) after settling last in a strung out six-horse heat. Hasn’t started on race day since running a very brave fourth behind Freeze Frame in the 2YO Sires' Stakes final back in Cup week last year (beaten 2L) and good enough to win on debut last season as favourite on a 1:57.9MR. Resumes this Friday night at Addington in Race 9 and drawn to be a key contender. Comes from a very strong maternal family. Dam by Art Major and although unraced, is a half sister to the likes of Wainui Creek (17 wins and $395k). There shouldn’t be too much of a mystery after Friday night!

Ashley Frank (3c Bettor’s Delight – Ashley Cullen) Tr. H & A Cullen

Trial winner (11/3/26) narrowly over stablemate Mystery Creek (above) after trailing but was most likely only going to run 2nd until pacemaker Song Of Seas broke when well clear with 200m to run. MR:2:00.4, 800m in 59.7, 400m in 30.7. Has had only the one 2YO run back in September behind Freeze Frame and it was a meritorious fifth. Sent for a spell soon after and now back as an improved horse. Resumes at Addington in Race 8 this Friday with a nice draw to take advantage of with Song Of Seas drawn on his immediate outer. Manners a big key to the latter’s chances. ‘Frank’ a full brother to a Group 1 winner Ashley Locaz (12 wins + $398k + 1:50), dam won five races so has a bit going for him as a racehorse

Centaurus (3g Classic Connection – Readytobeastar) Tr. D & C McGowan

Got to the front after stepping cleanly in his latest workout at Pukekohe (10/3/26) and simply ran away from his four rivals MR:2:10.8, 800m in 60.3, 400m in 29.3. Set to debut (like several others) at Auckland this Friday night in Race 6 and the workout effort would suggest he will be very hard to beat.
Another of the Yabby Dam stable ‘invading’ our NZ stables, promoting their European stallions at the same time. Classic Connection (a son of Love You) has already left an impressive debut winner at Addington recently in I’m Collected who looks highly promising. The Aussie invasion is not going away anytime soon.