Lightly-tried European import Te Akau Caliburn returned to the winners circle at his second-up run this campaign with a dead-heat for first in the Aranui Harvesters 1550m at Awapuni on Friday, with the fast finishing Lady Rudolph joining the Camelot entire on the line. 

 

Trainer Jamie Richards has Te Akau Cailiburn on a path towards the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) on March 7. 

 

The five-year-old performed credibly in two starts in Melbourne in the spring for Richards, having been purchased from the stable of British trainer Andrew Balding and lumped 60.5kgs to victory on Friday.

 

“He needed a bit of a break after campaigning in Melbourne in spring and we have been on the back foot a little bit just with his fitness,” Richards said.

 

“The plan is to go into the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) at Matamata and then into the Auckland Cup all going well, as long as his next run is good enough.

 

“He should have a bit of residual fitness from his Spring campaign and we’ll be banking on that to sort of get him out in trip a bit.”

 

Meanwhile, Richards said last start Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner Cool Aza Beel was back in work after a brief let-up.

 

“He had a week in the paddock and came back in on Tuesday and looks great,” he said.

 

“He heads to the Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr.3, 1200m) then to the Sistema Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) and all going well into the Sires (Gr.1,1400m).”