Te Akau Counties' Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Saturday 25 November at Pukekohe.

As on Friday 24 November the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true. No rain forecast.

1.55 p.m. R3 4 Pinot Grey (2 f Burgundy - Streaming) - Cameron Lammas; hardly turned a hair when winning impressively on debut in the 2YO 1000 metres on 9 November at Otaki, and steps up in the $50,000 Ashford Lodge Stakes (Listed, 1100m). Having begun smartly at the trials and race day, she should be able to take up a prominent position and with the addition of side winkers to aid focus her chances of featuring seem bright. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.15.

2.29 p.m. R4 5 Beaumarchais (4 g Savabeel - Almaviva) - Michael McNab; circled wide from well back in the field before running home solidly in the Thompson Handicap (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 28 October at Trentham, after resuming with a very good fresh-up third behind subsequent winning stable-mate Royal Success (Savabeel) in the Rating 85 1400 metres on 4 October at Ruakaka. Drawn barrier seven in the $30,000 Rating 85 1400 metres, his style of racing should be suited to the lengthy straight and he rates an each way chance in this field. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.80.

4.15 p.m. R7 7 Zambezi Warrior (5 g Pentire - Zambezi) - Danielle Johnson; was denied a run when finishing an unlucky fifth in the Rating 85 1550 metres on 4 November at Awapuni, having produced a better run than it looked when resuming in the Rating 85 1400 metres on 21 October at Rotorua. Third up in this campaign, he contests the $100,000 Ssangyong Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m). Drawn barrier six, he finished second in the Premier's Cup (Gr. 3, 2200m) and fourth in the Chairman's Handicap (Gr. 3, 2000m) in three starts during the winter carnival in Queensland, carries a competitive 53.5kgs and unbeaten in two starts on the course including once at the distance. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30.

4.50 p.m. R8 3 Heroic Valour (4 h Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Michael McNab; came from back in the field for fifth, running his last 600m (33.2) in a faster time than the winner, resuming in the Legacy Lodge Sprint (Listed, 1200m) a fortnight ago at Te Rapa. With a very good second up record and likely to be improved, he has the addition of visor blinkers and appears set for a bold performance in the $50,000 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (Listed, 1100m). Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.60.