The Trials Report – Six of the Best

The following horses have trialled pleasingly in recent weeks and now (15/10/26) they head back to the racetrack.

Thursday - Cambridge 

Like A Lady (4m Better’s Delight – Lady Antebellum) Tr. P & V Blanchard

Placed in a recent Pukekohe workout (6/10/26) where she settled last of 5, ran on late to snare third (race rival Alta Toni second from a trail). MR:2:05.7, 800m in 59.4, 400m in 27.9. Resumed at Auckland (24/9/26) and ran a creditable fifth, less than 3L from winner The Miki Taker in what was only her fourth lifetime start. Goes to Cambridge on Thursday (Race 2) and gets the pole for her second up assignment with senior reinsman Peter Ferguson sticking with her. Related to some very handy horses and won’t get a better opportunity to grab that maiden win from a great draw behind the mobile.

Thursday - Invercargill 

Lella Lombardi (3f Art Major – Rosinupthebow) Tr. C Ferguson

Two smart workout wins at Wyndham, the latest on 3/10/26 where she settled fourth of 6 in single file, not afraid to improve and sit parked last 800m, too good final 200m, coming clear to win with authority. MR:2:04.7, 800m in 58.2, 400m in 29.0. Goes to Invercargill on Thursday for her debut in Race 6 and cops a very handy draw (3) to use. Actually owned by race day driver Mark Hurrell and qualified as an early 2YO some 18 months ago. Dam won two and closely related to handy types Harrison John (7 wins) and Rozelski (6 wins). Not an overly big filly but trialling like a horse good enough to break out of maidens rather quickly.

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Ideal Crown (3f American Ideal – Two And Sixpence) Tr. C Faithful

Well-performed filly who has placed at Group 1 level. Very impressive at her latest workout at Wyndham (10/10/26) where she led for fun and then said goodbye to her four rivals last 200m, winning by some 3.75L. MR:2:02.3, 800m in 55.7, 400m in 27.0. Untouched on this occasion and now she gets ready to begin a new campaign likely to be aiming at rich filly specials later in the season. In the meantime, she heads to Invercargill on Thursday (Race 8) and although she is coming in fresh, her class should not be underestimated. She has placed top 3 in nine of her 12 starts and against quality opposition. Connections thought enough of her to take her all the way to Auckland for the Northern Oaks where she ran second to Cath.

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Friday - Auckland 

Doo You Want Me (4g Captain Crunch – Delightful Lana) Tr. T Herlihy

Good horse with a good horse’s record (8 wins from 18 starts). Only had the one quiet workout at Pukekohe (22/9/26) when second behind stablemate Our Col on a 2:09.8MR before resuming in the Group 3 Holmes DG but failed to threaten Better Knuckle Up and co, finishing some 20L away on a 56.3 last 800m. Goes to Auckland on Friday night (Race 6) where he starts off 20m over the 2200m with only two runners of the 8 on the front line. Sure to strip much fitter for this second up assignment and top trainer/driver has his team really firing at the moment. A good result here might secure a trip down south over cup week.

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Friday - Addington 

Elton J (5g Always B Miki – Zingara) Tr. R Todd

The winner of four of his 6 starts but hasn’t raced for nearly a year. Now in a new stable and given three trials during September in readiness for a new campaign. The last of those an impressive effort at Rangiora (29/9/26) where he sat back in fifth (of 7) in single file before getting a drag into the business end and finished powerfully to get in the deciding strides. MR:2:04.3, 800m in 56.2, 400m in 27.6. Top driver Blair Orange did the steering in the trial and he will be aboard again when he resumes at Addington on Friday night in Race 3. Starts off 10m with half the field of 8 and he began safely enough in the trial albeit rather slowly. This looks a good race to resume in and another win would not surprise.

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Jacque (2g Lazarus – Lancome) Tr. B Butt

Well-bred gelding from a top class filly who won 13 races with $461 in the bank. Trial wins in August and September before running a cracking second to subsequent winner Wise Move at Rangiora (6/10/26). On that occasion, he sat well back in a field of 9, came very wide around final turn and ran home boldly for his placing. MR:2:00.2, 800m in 56.8. Those sectionals off the front so his personal times would have been even better. Goes to Addington on Friday night (Race 5) for his debut where he has scored a very handy draw (2) and his trial form suggests he should be very competitive. And it's so good to see the progeny of his sire doing a sterling job on the track this season.

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