Te Akau Boxing Day Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses entered for the ten-race premier programme at Ellerslie, and two on the nine-race card at Awapuni, on Boxing Day.

Ellerslie:  
As on Friday 26 December the conditions were: cloudy and Good3, rail true.

12.50 p.m. R1 9 Sir Darci (4 g Darci Brahma - Dominant) - Matt Cameron; resumes off 83-days from barrier six in the Rating 85 1400 metres. Training on nicely since a solid trials performance on Dec. 5 at Cambridge, he boasts very good course credentials and has the natural ability to prove competitive.

1.25 p.m. R2 14 Love Actually (2 f Swiss Ace - Just Platonic) - Matt Cameron; makes her debut from barrier three in the 2YO 1100 metres. Freshened after an encouraging trial second at Te Awamutu, she won with her ears pricked after doing a bit of work in an 800-metre trial on Dec. 16 at Te Aroha. Possessing obvious talent, her performance against more experienced rivals will provide a good gauge.

2.45 p.m. R4 15 No Tricks (3 f Savabeel - Mezaire) - Matt Cameron; missed a run at her last two attempts: following the abandonment of Wellington Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) at Otaki, and late scratched prior to the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) at Awapuni. Which means her most recent outing was here on Oct. 25 when sustaining a big run for second in the Rating 65 1400 metres. Strong fields are the order of the day, and having drawn wide she will require plenty of race tempo in order to gain a challenging position.

4.05 p.m. R6 14 Smashing (3 f Pins - Ruud Van Slaats) - Matt Cameron; has been given time since heavy rain prior to the race thwarted her chances on Nov. 15 in the 3YO 1400 metres at Tauranga. She broke a track record (1:09.3) prior with a terrific second up performance on Oct. 18 in the 3YO 1200 metres at Rotorua, and from barrier four competes over the same distance in the Rating 75 1200 metres. On the second line of betting in the early TAB markets, she comes in with a nice weight of 54kg and has what it takes to test her opponents.

4.45 p.m. R7 1 Darci's Dream (3 f Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby) - Matt Cameron; did a terrific job of leading and it took a big effort by the winner to grab her in the concluding stages of the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Nov. 15 at Riccarton, and finishing second in such a prestigious race was a fantastic feat. Freshened since, she should receive a lovely trip from barrier one in the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) and trainer Jason Bridgman feels she will improve enormously on whatever she does. All going well she could possibly run in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) on Jan. 1 at Ellerslie.

6.05 p.m. R9 10 Abidewithme (5 m Redoute's Choice - Crimson) - Matt Cameron; got home stylishly to almost grab third on Dec. 13 in the Cal Isuzu Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m) at Te Rapa. Importantly, she has drawn a nice alley in barrier five for the weight-for-age Zabeel Classic (Gr. 1, 2000m). She boasts a terrific record at Ellerslie, with three wins and two seconds from only six starts and a mare of enormous fortitude it would be more than fitting if she was able to take the race out for owners and race sponsors Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan.

6.45 p.m. R10 6 Flirty Gertey (4 m Thorn Park - Granma Gertey) - Matt Cameron; was required to do more than those around her when finishing inside a length of the winner on Dec. 12 Rating 75 1400 metres at Tauranga, and has drawn the coveted barrier one in the corresponding event. A previous course winner at the distance, she meets a couple of smart rivals but an underrated type it is difficult to see her being overawed by the task.

Awapuni:  
As on Friday 26 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true.

12.33 p.m. R1 4 Alchemy's Flight (4 m Darci Brahma - Eloa) - Michael Dee; trialled nicely on Dec. 5 to resume off 79-days from barrier five in the Benchmark 65 1200 metres. Lightly raced, having shown talent at best, she will be ridden quietly and providing she obliges to settle in the run has the enabling turn of foot to put her in the finish.

5.07 p.m. R8 4 Show No Emotion (5 m Pins - Lynisky) - Hayden Tinsley; never saw daylight in a strong Rating 85 1400 metres at Trentham, and back in grade for the Rating 75 1500 metres looks a winnable race for her. She did everything but win against a better field on Nov. 22 in the Rating 75 1600 metres at Avondale, and she should combine well with this rider from barrier five.