Rani Hammond: Ellerslie Trial Report
Rani Hammond • September 13th, 2024 10:50 AM
It was good to be back at Ellerslie for 22 trial heats on Tuesday. It was a programme that exclusively featured two and three-year-old horses. All the three-year-old heats were maidens, so I am sure there are many ways you could see it. I wrote down a few of my thoughts throughout the day and this is what I have come up with for a trial report this week.
We kicked off the day with three heats for the two-year-old horses. Until we see them mature a little bit from here, I'd like to write out a few names to remember going forward. Keep an eye on Storm Front (colt by Snitzel out of Indecision) who took out Heat 2. Russian Blues (filly by Russian Revolution out of Maleeka Blues) was impressive enough in second. Eliza James (filly by War Decree out of Eva James) led and won Heat 3. Vega For Luck (colt by Lucky Vega out of Badea) was impressive in second as well. Keep those horses in the back of your mind as we see a new crop try make their mark throughout the season.
By far the most impressive trial throughout the day was from a horse named Dealt With out of the Roger James & Robert Wellwood barn in Heat 6 (Maiden 3YO Catchweight 800). He’s a three-year-old colt by Ace High and won by five lengths – he was pulling away after the line too. Wexford had a Magna Grecia filly in the same heat by the name of Sicillian who was last at the top of the straight and was hitting the line better than anyone besides perhaps the winner who ran 800m in 46.64!
Most of the riders were getting a little busy up the straight in Heat 8 (Maiden 3YO Catchweight 800) but Zelezniak was one that I saw that was a better run than the fourth placing looks on paper. He was presented at the 250 metre mark and looked as solid as anything. I talked to Wexford’s Andrew Scott and he said “there was more good than bad about it” and added that “he settled into his gallop which was great” so there are clear positive signs from the trial, even if the horse is yet to become the complete package. The plan from here is to trial him again at Te Rapa (September 24) where they would want to see him hit the line with more assertion than he did at Ellerslie. Zelezniak – keep him in mind going forward.
Heat 10 was a pretty impressive show from an Embellish filly by the name of Hitabell. The last 300m were really nice compared to the rest I thought. I contacted Stephen Marsh who trains her and he shared the plan was to trial her again in two weeks (September 24 at Te Rapa) and from there the hope is to see her at the races. She seems a nice filly so I will be keeping an eye on her to see how she progresses next time she trials.
Two fillies were written down moments after the microphone was switched off after Heat 13. Legacy (Savabeel) jumped well and stayed in front throughout to win the trial. Merillian (Alabama Express) settled fourth after the start and ran on in fantastic order with Triston Moodley aboard. She was pushed along but everyone else was as well. I think these fillies will take improvement from the trial and we should see them again soon.
There was a very eye-catching filly in Heat 16 by the name of Britannia Gold. Vinnie Colgan rode and looked like he asked for a bit from the daughter of Ten Sovereigns. She looked stuck away along the fence until about 150m out and showed real promise late in the piece. She made up a length in just under 100m. Despite being pushed along, I think she is one to keep an eye on to see what she learns from her trip to Ellerslie.
Deep Water Bay (Glenn Old, Matamata) and Gamble (Sam Mynott, Cambridge) were sharp in how they found the line for second and third in Heat 19. Running on together as they did is something worth keeping an eye on, so note the names down to see where they go next and how they improve.
Heat 20 (Maiden 3YO Catchweight 800) saw Ballistic Miss pull clear of the field in the last 150m. Stephen Marsh trains this filly and explained he was happy enough with the trial. With all going well, Marsh expects the filly to line up at Te Rapa on September 27 in a 1400m three-year-old maiden race.
Ridefromtheashes, trained by Ben & Ryan Foote, won Heat 22 on the day (Maiden 3YO Catchweight 800) and looked to do his best work late. He is definitely one to watch in the coming weeks. I thought Casemiro was as good as anything in fourth after a tardy jump and found the line nicely enough. Those are the horses I would follow out of the last trial on the day.
The Ellerslie track played a treat throughout the trial meeting. It is only good news that we have the green light to return to racing there for a meeting on September 21. Before we get to racing at Ellerslie, I’ll be back with a trial report following the day at Arawa Park. How good it is to be back on the turf in Spring!
