Te Akau Avondale Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses entered for the ten race programme on Monday 27 April at Avondale.

As on Sunday 26 April the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true.

12.30 p.m. R3 20 Latin Rose (3 f Mastercraftsman - Down View) - rider to be advised; is sixth on the ballot in the Maiden 1200 metres and therefore unlikely to make the field. A big filly, making her debut, she is beginning to take shape and found the line in encouraging fashion in a recent trial over 850 metres at Te Awamutu.

1.05 p.m. R4 4 Osmunda (4 m O'Reilly - Wyndam Special) - Matt Cameron; was nicely handled when closing late for third in the Rating 65 2000 metres on Easter Saturday at Hastings, and from barrier one, with the addition of blinkers, she appears ideally placed to threaten in the Rating 65 2100 metres at her fourth start back from a spell. She staged a big performance for second here on debut at her only course attempt.

1.40 p.m. R5 13 Maestro (4 g Encosta De Lago - Miss Scarlatti) - Cameron Lammas; was put under a ride when circling from the 600m for sixth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on April 2 at New Plymouth, and contests the corresponding event. With a tongue tie added to his gear, he is capable of an improved performance with luck from a wide draw.

2.15 p.m. R6 8 Tiara (4 m O'Reilly - Royal Lady) - Matt Cameron; resumes off 71-days, having recorded a win and two thirds from five starts in her previous campaign. Drawn wide in the Rating 65 1400 metres, she will look to find cover in a field where she appears competitive and hitting the line positively will have her ready to step up in distance next time out.

2.50 p.m. R7 10 Risque (2 f Darci Brahma - So Explicit) - Matt Cameron; showed her quality in winning a recent 600-metre trial, off the front, on April 14 at Te Awamutu, and now makes her debut in the 2YO Fillies 1200 metres. Whether she has the speed to negate a wide draw remains to be seen and she may be reserved until drawing a better alley - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

2.50 p.m. R7 12 Love Actually (2 f Swiss Ace - Just Platonic) - Cameron Lammas; resumes off 122-days, having contested a strong two-year-old race over 1100 metres, won by subsequent Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) winner Del Cielo (Per Incanto), on Boxing Day at Ellerslie. A recent third in a good form trial should have brought her on nicely for this, and while a three-year-old type in the making she is capable of a bold showing from barrier one.