Te Akau Ellerslie Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses racing on Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 7 November, at Ellerslie.

As on Monday 6 November the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true. No rain forecast.

12.17 p.m. R1 1 Hushed (7 g Don Eduardo - Danewhisper) - Opie Bosson; fought solidly for sixth after working forward in the Rating 85 1600 metres on 22 October at Hastings, having run his final 600m (35.3) faster than the winner when resuming in the Rating 85 1400 metres on 4 October at Ruakaka, each time with Bosson aboard. Recording a majority of his six wins around 2000 metres, stepping up in the $30,000 Rating 85 2200 metres is ideal. Carrying 60kgs, giving the next highest rated 3.5kgs and others 6kgs, he has won an Open handicap and can prove competitive in this field. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.28.

2.42 p.m. R5 6 Fashionably (4 m Redoute's Choice - Scarlett Lady) - Opie Bosson; was hindered by losing a shoe when resuming in Rating 65 1400 metres on 18 October at Te Aroha, yet still staged a big finish widest on the track for fourth. Impressive winning over a mile third up, she ended her first campaign with fifths to Bonneval (Makfi) in both the Lowland Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m) and New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). Drawn wide in the $30,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, she has the ability to win with luck in running.

4.27 p.m. R8 2 Chance To Dance (8 g Teofilo - Crystal Ballet) - Opie Bosson; was caught wide and paid the price in the Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) on 22 October at Hastings, after winning fresh-up in the Haunui Farm Karaka Classic (Listed, 1600m) on 24 September at Pukekohe. Drawn to receive a sweet trip from barrier one in the $70,000 OMF Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m), the winner of six races from 2000m - 2400m is ideally suited by weight-for-age conditions and can bounce back with blinkers on. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.20.