Te Akau Ellerslie Twilight Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Saturday 9 December at Ellerslie - twilight meeting.

As on Friday 8 December the conditions were: cloudy and Dead4, rail out 6 metres. No rain forecast.

4.34 p.m. R4 6 Vinevale (5 m Flying Spur - Eden Valley) - Cameron Lammas; was late getting clear when third resuming over 1200 metres at Te Rapa, and circled from back in the field with a strong finish for fourth in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 4 November at Awapuni. Up in grade but carrying minimum weight (54kgs) in the $35,000 Rating 85 1400 metres, she meets a small but select field of seven and appears a top three chance. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $1.75.

4.34 p.m. R4 7 Wide Awake (4 g Savabeel - Kay's Awake) - Michael McNab; was beautifully ridden to win the Rating 65 1600 metres on 10 November at Avondale, but faces a far stiffer assignment in the $35,000 Rating 85 1400 metres. On the minimum (54kgs) and likely to ease from barrier seven, winning form is good form and he has the athleticism prove a factor. Fixed odds: $9.20 & $2.20.

5.50 p.m. R6 3 Heroic Valour (4 h Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Cameron Lammas; produced a strong run from last to finish close up third in the Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (Listed, 1100m) a fortnight ago at Pukekohe. His last 600m (32.7) was the fastest on a very strong day of racing. Resuming prior in the Legacy Lodge Sprint (Listed, 1200m) at Te Rapa, he ran a faster last 600m (33.2) than the winner to finish fifth. Winner of the Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) here as a two-year-old, and close seconds in his two previous course attempts, he has all the right credentials to be very competitive in the $40,000 Open 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.75.

5.50 p.m. R6 9 Melody Belle (3 f Commands - Meleka Belle) - Michael McNab; was crowned Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old for her feats last season, which included winning the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) on this course and the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) at Awapuni, with McNab aboard. Fresh-up in the $40,000 Open 1200 metres, following a third and first in respective trials through October and November, she has Group One sprint targets forthcoming but also the class to rate an each way chance in her first start against older horses. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.30.