Te Akau Awapuni Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Saturday 8 January at Awapuni.

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: out 2 metres 850m - 450m, remainder out 6 metres (outside bend).  No rain forecast.

3:12 p.m. R5 2 Te AkauCaliburn  (7 g Camelot - Enchanted Evening) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); last raced in the Avondale Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m), and resumes off a lengthy spell in the $40,000 Open 1600 metres. His action looked good when closing strongly for third at the trials on 21 December at Ellerslie. He is a course/distance winner at his only attempt, and with weight relief to 57.5kg, he is likely to improve on whatever he does. Fixed odds:$21.00 & $4.50.

3:12 p.m. R5 5 Aotea Lad  (5 g Savabeel - Corsage) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); showed resolve when winning a torridly run Rating 74 1600 metres on 27 November at Wanganui, with Parmar aboard, and followed that with a close second in $40,000 Open 1600 metres on 18 December at Te Rapa. Contesting the corresponding event, with weight relief to 53.5kg, he likes the course and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.80.

4:20 p.m. R7 8 Leaderboard (7 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Kozzi Asano; ended his campaign with a very good third in the New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) on 13 November at Riccarton, ridden by Asano, and resumed with another nice third in a Rating 74 1600 metres on 28 December at Timaru. Aided by the minimum weight (53kg) and an ideal draw (5), he has finished second in two course attempts, and he brings form to prove competitive in the $60,000 Japac Homes Marton Cup (Listed, 2200m). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.90.