The Trials Report – Six of the Best

The following horses have trialled pleasingly in recent weeks and now (28/8/26) they head back to the racetrack.

Friday - Auckland 

Wat Next (3f Art Major – Wat A Woman) Tr. N Purdon

Last raced in a Group 1 behind Secret Wish in early May but has been back to the Pukekohe workouts in recent weeks in preparation for a fresh campaign. The latest of those a placed effort behind stablemate Just Us Two after leading out then taking a trail behind the winner, fought on in a 2:00.9MR, 800m in 56.9, 400m in 27.1. Resumes at Auckland this Friday night (Race 1) and has scored a very handy draw at three. Has a rating of 35 but after only 10 starts (1 win) has bankrolled $112k in earnings thanks to winning a Harness Million 2YO Fillies pace at Addington at just her third start last year. Meets a few ‘seasoned’ campaigners in this assignment but if she is to tackle 3YO filly riches later in her campaign, she will need to give a good account of herself here.

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We Will Rise Again (2c Lazarus – Gracelands Rose) Tr. Purdon/Phelan

Did a promising ‘job’ in his first stint earlier in the year including a third placing behind the unbeaten Tour Party (4 wins from 4 starts) in the Group 1 Cardigan Bay Stakes back in March. Two trials earlier in the month including a win at the Pukekohe trials (18/8/26) where he blasted to the lead and did enough to hold out Omaha Lincoln in a 2:01.9MR, 800m in 57.0, 400m in 27.2. Goes to Auckland to kick start a fresh campaign and has drawn the middle of a seven-horse field of non-win 2YOs (Race 3) over 2200m Mob. Another to be having one eye on richer spoils later in the season but his class should still take him close on this occasion. Interestingly, his second dam is millionaire mare Tupelo Rose who won 35 races on the track

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Friday - Addington 

Captain Tyron (3g Captain Crunch – Passion And Power) Tr. R & J Dunn

The veteran of just four starts but with three of those winning efforts (the other a second placing) he obviously is a very promising pacer. The last of those way back in January at Nelson. Went to the Rangiora trials last week (19/8/26) and looked awesome in beating five rivals which included open class pacers Wag Star and Franco Sinatra (off 30m). MR:2:02.9, 800m in 56.3, 400m in 28.0. Resumes at Addington this Friday (Race 8) and has drawn wide (8) against some very handy intermediate pacers. Likely to need this run but looks a very progressive type who should be followed over the coming weeks. The trial was impressive.

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Always A Porsche (5g Always B Miki – Ann Other Porsche) Tr. R & J Dunn

Won a trial at Rangiora (15/7/26) in impressive fashion and has run a couple of minor placings in a fresh campaign since that trial. The latest placing behind Franco Lomu where he set up a 55.9 last 800m on a 1:57.5MR after working to the front, caught late finishing 1.5L from the winner. Third up at Addington this Friday and is the highest rated pacer in this 14 horse field (Race 9), hence the 20m handicap over 2600m. Expecting that he must be close to his best after the two runs back. Won four of 8 in his previous campaign so he is clearly a horse with a motor. Will need to do some ‘work’ here at some stage to get into the race but his ‘porsche-like’ qualities can take care of that.

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Sunday - Ashburton 

Olympian (3g Tall Dark Stranger – American Tart) Tr. J Cox

Nice trial at Ashburton (18/8/26) where he started as a non winner against winners, stepped ok to lead and went down a very small margin to a 2-win and 6-win pacer. MR:2:06.5, 800m in 59.0, 400m in 29.5. Goes to the same track on Sunday in Race 1 and for the first time in some time is off the unruly. In his last campaign he was settling a long way off the pace from his unruly tag and doing very well to get as close as he did with generally no favours in the running.
Can race a bit greenly but he has shown that he does have an ‘engine’ and this field looks rather devoid of form. Dam was a very smart mare at her best winning nine races. Note the change of driver (John Morrison).

River (3f Bettor’s Delight – Lady Gilpin) Tr. R Butt

Has trialled through August, the most recent at Rangiora (19/8/26) where she led a quality field after stepping quickly, was solid enough, holding on to third behind the impressive Captain Tyron and a nose away from Cup class pacer Wag Star. MR:2:02.9, 800m in 56.3, 400m in 28.0. Hasn’t started since brilliantly winning a listed Harness Millions for 3YO Fillies at Auckland back in March by nearly 5L.