Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses racing on Saturday 19 January: Trentham, and Gore.

Trentham:

As on Friday 18 January the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true. No rain forecast.

3.47 p.m. R7 2 Melody Belle (4 m Commands - Meleka Belle) - Jason Waddell; staged a massive run for third from a wide draw in the Railway (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, and dealt no favours in drawing wide (18) again in the $250,000 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (Gr. 1, 1200m), although a sweeping nature to the course makes the draw less imperative. The Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner and Champion Two-Year-Old of her year, she won two Group Ones and a Group Two earlier in the season and warrants favouritism. Fixed odds: $2.20 & $1.30.

4.22 p.m. R8 6 Savy Yong Blonk (3 f Savabeel - Ampin) - Michael Coleman; was short of room in a very competitive last 600m (34.8) when debuting in November at New Plymouth, won the Maiden 1400 metres on 7 December at Matamata, and stepped up a notch to impress winning the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres on 27 December at Rotorua. Up in class to contest the $70,000 Williment Travel Group Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), she has drawn the ace, boasts good pedigree, and certainly shown the ability to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.35.

Gore:

As on Friday 18 January the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true. 15mls rain forecast Saturday.

3.31 p.m. R7 2 Weaponry (3 g Declaration of War - Cat Shmea) - Jason Laking; made the perfect start to his racing career when winning on debut in November at Rotorua, and showed enormous benefit in the manner of his victory on 18 December in the Rating 65 1400 metres at Ruakaka. Up in class and ideally drawn (2) in the $50,000 Liquorland Gore Guineas (Listed, 1335m), his form looks competitive in this field. Fixed odds: $2.00 & $1.25.