Te Akau Ellerslie Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses entered for the ten race premier programme on Auckland Cup Day, Wednesday 4 March , at Ellerslie.

As on Tuesday 3 March  the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 2 metres.

2.37 p.m. R4 9 Angelica Hall (4 m Guillotine - Greta Hall) - Danielle Johnson; resumed off 294-days here a fortnight ago in the Rating 85 1200 metres. From last of the seven runners she narrowed the margin in finishing fourth. Two ahead of her at the line: Dresden Park (Thorn Park) and Black Mascara (Don Eduardo) contest the Westbury Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m) later in the programme. Drawn barrier six in the Rating 85 1200 metres, ideally she would find cover and be saved for a late run.

3.48 p.m. R6 6 Vive La Difference (3 f Choisir - L'Artiste) - Matt Cameron; looked a certainty beaten on Jan. 9 in the Rating 65 1300 metres at Tauranga, and followed with a game effort for fourth to Platinum Witness (California Dane) in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on Jan. 24 at Trentham. Second in a trial last Tuesday at Matamata, she now takes her place from barrier four in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m). She meets a small but select field, where an encouraging performance could give rise to her chances of contesting the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) on March 14 at Trentham.

4.58 p.m. R8 3 Abidewithme (5 m Redoute's Choice - Crimson) - Matt Cameron; has been freshened since contesting the Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Jan. 24 at Trentham, where her finishing effort, after being checked twice in the straight, was much better than it seems. Drawn barrier five in the Westbury Classic (Gr. 3, 1400m), the competitive nature of the event could set it up for back runners and she did finish second in the corresponding race last year.