Te Akau Boxing Day Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing on Boxing Day at Ellerslie.

As on Saturday 24 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true. No further rain forecast.

1.50 p.m. R3 1 Hall of Fame (3 c Savabeel - Around the Clock) - Opie Bosson; won the Zacinto Stakes (Listed, 1600m) by five lengths on 22 October at Riccarton, but not quite himself when second favourite ($3.70) in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). Freshened since, he resumes off 51 days in the $50,000 3YO 1400 metres. Highest rated (73) and shouldered with 59.5kgs, with three wins and two seconds from seven starts, he comes in without a trial and sure to improve but is classy and has the benefit of barrier one. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.35.

1.50 p.m. R3 6 Kingsman (3 c Darci Brahma - Society Lady) - Michael McNab; looked well and made good ground from last in the Rating 75 1000 metres at Te Aroha, running the final 600m in 33.1, and contests the $50,000 3YO 1400 metres. He finished third here in the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) last season, and resumed his campaign in August with a fourth to Ugo Foscolo (Zacinto) and Hall of Fame (Savabeel) over 1200 metres at Hastings, which indicates his credentials to be competitive, but will require luck from a wide draw.

2.25 p.m. R4 5 Splurge (4 g Savabeel - Splashing Out) - Opie Bosson; remains in the same grade after resuming with a two and a quarter length win in the Rating 75 1200 metres at Hastings, and drawn barrier six in the $50,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. He meets a far higher quality field, but ran an impressive final 600m in 33.8 last start and coupled with three wins from six races suggests the test is well within him. Fixed odds: $5.20 & $2.00.

2.25 p.m. R4 9 Chadsdale (5 g Castledale - Geeiliani) - Michael McNab; was decidedly unlucky resuming here when held up with more to offer before finishing fifth in the Rating 75 1200 metres, with McNab aboard, and contests the $50,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. No further back than fourth in 13 of his 19 starts, he rates a better chance on the strength of his first up effort than the current quote. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.20.

4.15 p.m. R7 2 Royal Success (4 g Savabeel - Royal Show) - Opie Bosson; made it four wins in a row with a top fresh-up performance in the Rating 85 1400 metres at Trentham, running a good quality time: 1:22.9, last 600m 33.8. He meets a very competitive field in the $80,000 Dunstan Feeds Rising Stars Championship 1500 metres and required to negate an awkward draw (12), but his record speaks volumes and the TAB has him clear favourite. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.80.

5.30 p.m. R9 6 Abidewithme (7 m Redoute's Choice - Crimson) - Michael McNab; circled widest and made good headway with a notable performance in the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Trentham, after returning to her best when winning the Tauranga Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m). Reunited with McNab, who has a formidable record on the mare, she contests the $200,000 Zabeel Classic (Gr. 1, 2000m). Ideally drawn in barrier four, with good course and distance stats, the step up in distance should suit her perfectly and she has both the ability and determination to take advantage of any chinks amongst the opposition. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

6.05 p.m. R10 8 Vinevale (4 m Flying Spur - Eden Valley) - Mark Du Plessis; won stylishly last Saturday in the Rating 75 1500 metres (last 600m 34.2), with Du Plessis aboard, and steps up in grade and distance in the $50,000 Dunstan Feeds Championship Qualifier 2100 metres. Two starts ago she ran a notable fifth here to subsequent Group Two runner-up Rising Shot (Red Giant) in the Rating 75 1400 metres, and should be ideally poised to threaten from barrier four. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.05.