The Trials Report – Six of the Best

The following horses have trialled pleasingly in recent weeks and now (10/9/26) they head back to the racetrack.

Thursday - Winton 

Duchess Of Kent (4m Art Major – Galleons Honour) Tr. L Pearson

Smart mare with a smart mare’s record (six wins from just 13 starts) who was a workout winner at Invercargill (14/8/26) in a three-horse heat. Trailed in that workout before coming out around final turn to get the better of pacemaker Jaccka Henry, looked to have a few ‘gears’ left. MR:2:04.3, 800m in 56.5, 400m in 27.2. Starts a fresh campaign on the same Invercargill track this Thursday (Race 6) and as the highest rated horse in the field, has drawn the outside of the line over 2200m. With a Junior Driver aboard (Ollie Kite), a winning turn would be penalty free. Race rival Always Be Batman looked impressive in running clear of Utah Jazz at the Winton workouts (28/8/26). He too has won the six races and also is looking for that penalty free win with a Junior Driver aboard. They make a strong case to quinella the race.

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Thursday - Cambridge 

Maro Mackendon (6g Muscle Mass – Princess Mackendon) Tr. Wallis/Hackett

Promising trotter who has won four of 14 starts including a last start win at Cambridge (2/10/25) but that was nearly a year ago so he might have needed an enforced layoff due to some issue. Has had two workouts recently, the last a comfortable win in a two-horse heat at Pukekohe (1/9/26) where he trailed stablemate Aldebaran DB and under his own steam, got over the top of that runner. MR:2:12.2, 800m in 61.6, 400m in 30.4. Resumes this Thursday at Cambridge in Race 6 (although under Auckland TC) where he has a 15m handicap over 2700m from the unruly mark. Stepped safely in his workout win and while race night is quite different, the longer trip will give him the chance to get into a nice rhythm. 25-win mare Jasinova looks an obvious threat.

Friday - Addington 

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

Hard not to like his fresh up run behind Kowhai Star where he flashed home late to snare third on a 56.5 last 800m (off the front) and before that an impressive trial winner at Rangiora (19/8/26) where he defeated open class pacers Wag Star and Franco Sinatra. Second up at Addington this Friday night (Race 9) where he meets a small but select field in a ‘listed’ 3YO Sires' Stakes race. Only had the five starts, won three with two other placings.
These small fields can be quite tactical but the right man ‘in the bike’ and it would come as no surprise to see this fellow locking horns with the best of the age group when the Group races come around later in the year. Highest rated horse in this field.

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Scoundrel (2c Captaintreacherous – Twilight Rascal) Tr. B Hill

Multiple trial wins recently, the last an impressive effort at Rangiora (2/9/26) coming from midfield then parked last 700m, led on straightening, not pushed to stay in front. MR:2:00.6, 800m in 57.5, 400m in 27.7. Sixth  foal of his dam who won nine times and the previous five have all got to the races with NZ Cup placegetter Beach Ball (11 wins and $345k) being the standout relation. Goes to Addington this Friday to make his debut in Race 4 and expecting that he will be a short priced favourite especially now that he has scored a very handy ‘marble’. Highly-rated by the stable and a win on debut looks very much on the cards. In the same race, Avalon, the half brother to Got The Chocolates, is also on debut but he is going to need plenty of luck from the inside of the second line.

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Friday - Auckland 

Mediator (4g Captaintreacherous – Willow) Tr. M White

Very solid at the Pukekohe workouts through August including a nice second  to Mama’s Wish (11/8/26) who led throughout. MR:2:01.8, 800m in 57.2. Resumed at Auckland (28/8/26) and finished strongly to snare third behind War Party (3 wins on the bounce) on a 1:55.5MR, 3.6L from the winner. Second up at Auckland this Friday night (Race 2) and cops the wide draw of eight over the 1700m trip. Likely to be fitter again and good enough to overcome the ‘marble. Model of consistency winning three of 10 starts with a further four top 3 finishes. This race restricted to Junior Drivers and Crystal Hackett gets to drive which is another positive.

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Alecto (3f Bettor’s Delight – Time And Tide) Tr. N Purdon

Third in the above workout behind Mama’s Wish then resumed at Cambridge (21/8/26) when a strong third behind War Party on a 1:55.6MR and less than 2L from the winner. Trainer not resting on his laurels and had her back at the Pukekohe workouts (1/9/26) where she was a strong second behind pacemaker Princess Gracy in a five-horse field. MR:2:03.2, 800m in 56.7, 400m in 27.2. Race rival Fly High third in that same workout. Now goes to Auckland on Friday night for a Nevele R Fillies heat and has drawn two on the second line  over the 1700m which might work out especially with Mark Purdon doing the steering. (ironically right behind Fly High). Genuine filly who has won the three races from 19 starts with another six placings and expecting her to be right there when the ‘whips are cracking’. Likely favourite Ride The Waves (4 wins from 5 starts) won a two-horse trial on a showery track at ‘The Park’ (4/9/26) in a 2:01MR, last 900m in 57.0 but she has drawn the outside of the gate, making her task all that harder.

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