The Trials Report – Six of the Best

The following horses have trialled pleasingly in recent weeks and now (17/9/26) they head back to the racetrack.

Thursday - Winton 

Bill Ackman (2c Art Major – Linda Lovegrace) Tr. C & C Dalgety

Won a three-horse trial at Ashburton (8/9/26) showing gate speed to lead then holding his stablemate comfortably last 200m MR:2:00.3, 800m in 57.2, 400m in 26.6. Qualified back in April but stable decided to turn him out for a time. After two recent trials, sneaks down to Winton on Thursday (Race 4) for his debut where he has drawn the middle of the front line. Seventh foal of dam who won 14 races and banked $265k. She hasn’t left one close to her own deeds on the track but six of the 7 have been good enough to get to the races all the same. Top stable on a roll and sure to be well supported on that point alone.

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Tua Lipa (5g Sweet Lou – Tara Delight) Tr. S Matheson

Now an eight-race winner and despite winning on a tough trip at Gore (30/8/26) was taken back to the Winton workouts (11/9/26) to win a three-horse workout in the rain, trailing and proving too strong for trotter Fiery Bandito. MR:2:04.0, 800m in 60.1, 400m in 30.8. Goes to Winton on Thursday (Race 9) and is the highest-rated horse in the field and therefore is the only horse drawn the second row but that could work to his advantage. Remains a tad under-rated and comes from a family of good horses close up. There are plenty of positives here .... good chance to win again.

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Friday - Auckland 

Beware The Storm (2f Bettor’s Delight – Veyron) Tr. N Purdon

Impressive Group 2 winner at Addington earlier in the year but after three starts was sent for a spell. Back at northern workouts/trials recently including a win at Pukekohe (8/9/26) where she worked to the front in the hands of Mark Purdon and did enough to comfortably hold out three rivals. MR:2:04.7, 800m in 57.7, 400m in 27.9. Resumes at Auckland this Friday in the Group 1 Caduceus for 2YO Fillies and faces the best of that age group in the North, no easy task.
Stable has four runners in the field including the two inside draws on the front line with Beware The Storm drawn the inside of the second line. Could see her trailing or three deep with a cosy marker run likely. Key rivals like Belle Biddy may not get it that easy therefore she could represent excellent E/W value.

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Friday - Addington 

Bacchus (3g Art Major – Return To Gold) Tr. R & J Dunn

Smart trial winner at Rangiora trials (9/9/26) after leading and staying on strongly to beat 9 rivals. MR:2:00.3, 800m in 55.9. 400m in 28.6. The veteran of just four starts (1 win and 1 placing) and not disgraced against the likes of Freeze Frame in MRs of 1:56, 800s in 55 when unplaced earlier in the year.  Rangiora trial strongly suggested that he is ready to resume a new campaign and that time has arrived at Addington this Friday in Race 1 where he has scored a sweet draw of two. No Freeze Frames in this line up and expected to ‘give a sight’ for a fair way in this contest. Likely to see a better version this campaign and could start favourite.

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Imperious Girl (3f Imperial Count – The Sweedish Filly) Tr. C Ferguson

Three wins from 3 starts and by big margins with last 800s in sub 57 not uncommon. Went to the workouts at Wyndham (29/8/26) and after trailing early, elected to take over with a lap to run, cleared out final stages by some distance (20L) and in cruise control. MR:2:10.9, 800m in 60.6, 400m in 29.5. Heads north to take on the ‘cream of the crop’ at Addington this Friday (Race 7) and not the only runner with an unbeaten record on the line. Something quite ‘imperial’ about this filly but we will all be a lot wiser after the event. This is perhaps the race of the night. Dam won two and is a half sister to The Fiery Ginga (28 wins).

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Nella Keenan (2f Downbytheseaside – She’s No Lady) Tr. S Reid

Was ‘no lady’ at the Rangiora trials (9/9/26) missing the start by a considerable margin and being some 15-20 lengths off the winner Bacchus with a lap to run, did incredibly well to finish in the bunch (beat three home) with the leader running home in 55.9. Off the scene since the end of May when she won the Group 3 Helen Pope at Ashburton in a 1:52MR and not further back than second in two other starts. Resumes at Addington this Friday in Race 6 and has a horror draw of 9 against some very handy rivals but this filly has a touch of class about her. Don’t be surprised if she gets over the top of her rivals in the last 100m.

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