Te Akau Awapuni Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses racing on Saturday 31 March at Awapuni.

As on Friday 30 March the conditions were: fine and Dead6, rail true. No rain forecast until Saturday night.

3.34 p.m. R6 1 Sword of Osman (2 g Savabeel - Bunyah) - Opie Bosson; was incredibly dominant winning the Matamata Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 24 February at Matamata, and made it three wins from four starts when leading and proving too good in the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 10 March at Ellerslie. Attempting back-to-back Group One wins in the $225,000 Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), a race won impressively last year by stable-mate and NZ Champion Two-Year-Old Melody Belle (Commands). Expected to press forward from barrier 12, he has course familiarity following an impressive debut win by three lengths here and an exciting galloper on the rise. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.45.

3.34 p.m. R6 6 Handsome Rebel (2 g Denman - London Rebel) - Shafiq Rusof; staged a mighty effort for third to Sword of Osman (above) in the Matamata Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) and capped four thirds from as many starts when racing clear by four lengths to win the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 14 March at Matamata. Drawn barrier seven in the $225,000 Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), he has continued to improve throughout his campaign and steps up to town hall company in the best form. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $3.60.

3.34 p.m. R6 8 Avantage (2 f Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Danielle Johnson; capitalized on a sweet trip when winning the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) on 27 January at Ellerslie, and came off 42 days with a massive sprint near the rail for second (fastest last 600m 32.8 on the day) to Sword of Osman (above) in the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m). Pure class, with four wins and second from five starts, a quieter approach could be adopted from the outside gate (13) but a pressure race such as this can see her get home with a wet sail. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.75.

4.14 p.m. R7 4 Heroic Valour (4 h Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Opie Bosson; racked up another top performance when sustaining a big finish for second in the Te Akau Racing Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m) a fortnight ago at Trentham. His sectional times were outstanding to break 32 seconds (31.8) for the final 600m. Prior to, he finished second in the Darley Stallions Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Derby Day at Ellerslie. Drawing barrier one in the $50,000 Flying Handicap (Listed, 1400m) should see him able to take up a handier position, which could prove the difference in converting his top recent efforts into a win. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.35.

4.49 p.m. R8 9 Our Abbadean (5 m Lookin At Lucky - Highland Lights) - Shafiq Rusof; followed a strong fifth in the Rating 85 1600 metres on 24 February at Matamata, stepping up in distance with aplomb to win the Open Handicap 2100 metres on 10 March at Trentham. She had shown appreciation for a middle distance when winning impressively over 2200 metres at the end of her previous campaign, in April last year, and has the ability to prove an each way chance in the $100,000 Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2000m). Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.30.