This morning’s trials at Arawa Park in New Zealand witnessed the first member of the Cool Aza Beel (NZ) breed make a very positive impression in the new 2-year-old division when Cool Aza Rene showed brilliant innate speed throughout to score over 800m in the colours of Te Akau.

Once upon a time the official two year-old trials in Sydney were the biggest show in town to get a first peek at the cream of the new season juveniles, however times change and the trend to produce them later by many of our leading trainers means there will be just eight heats this year, but still plenty of interest.