Epsom Handicap favourite Te Akau Shark has cruised to a half length win in a barrier trial in New Zealand ahead of his race return.

The Jamie Richards-trained Te Akau Shark, part-owned and named for Cronulla Sutherland NRL captain Paul Gallen, was among 48 horses from the Te Akau operation to run in the trials at Te Rapa on Monday morning.

"He lengthened well and he is coming up nicely. We are prett...