Te Akau Ashburton Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered for the twilight meeting on Wednesday 18 December at Ashburton.

Ashburton:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

2:45 p.m. R2 6 Renaissance Man (3 g Almanzor – Kindred) – Lily Sutherland (a1); he ran home solidly for sixth when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres on 21 November at Timaru, and contests the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres. The brother of stable-mate Kith ‘n’ Kin, the winner of three races to 1200 metres, he brings first four claims from barrier three. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.40.

3:55 p.m. R4 14 Corps D’Elite (3 f So You Think – Illuminati) – Lily Sutherland (a1); she settled back from her outside gate and ran on to close the margin for fifth in a trial on 26 November at Taupo. Debuting in the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres, her dam Illuminati (Keeper) included a stakes' win over 1400 metres among her 10 career wins from 1200m – 1560m. So while she looks destined for further, she is likely need to get back from her tricky draw (12) and be looking for her finding the line. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50. 

4:30 p.m. R5 1 Hooray For Harry (3 g Harry Angel – Here We Come) – Lily Sutherland (a1); he travelled handily in the open and sustained a good gallop to win a trial here on 7 November. He ran on after being back and wide when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 21 November at Timaru, has blinkers on, and is presented with the opportunity to improve if he can snare some luck in the running from his wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.45.

5:47 p.m. R7 5 Millefiori (6 m Iffraaj – Miss Bluebell) – Lily Sutherland (a1); she contested the Listed Stewards' Stakes over 1200m on NZ Cup Day (16 Nov.) at Riccarton, has been given time (32 days) since, and drops in class for the $25,000 Open Handicap 1300 metres. She is the well performed winner of seven races from 1100m – 1400m, and is stakes' placed. While she got home very well for third over 1200 metres here in March, she is yet another who has fallen foul of the 'barrier gods' jumping from the outside gate (12). Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.60.

6:57 p.m. R9 2 Mazzucato (4 m Tivaci – Yellen) – Lily Sutherland (a1); the first of two stable runners in this race, she recorded a win and a second during Cup Week at Riccarton: racing clear in the fastest last 600m (32.8) to win the Rating 75 1400 metres on 9 November, and fastest last 600m (35.0) again with massive effort off outside gate (18) for second in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 16 November.  She is in terrific form and rates a definite top three chance from barrier one in the $25,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70. 

6:57 p.m. R9 6 Family Ties (5 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she sustained an excellent finish down the outside for a fresh-up victory in the Rating 75 1400 metres here on 3 November, and fought solidly in slower ground nearer rail in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 16 November at Riccarton. A stakes' winning mare, she too brings good form to the challenge, and is more than capable of a top four finish if she too can secure luck from wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.