Te Akau Ellerslie Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has nine horses entered on Sunday 14 January at Ellerslie.

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 7 metres. No rain forecast. 

3:31 p.m. R1 4 Egyptian Queen (3 f Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Opie Bosson; she won the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $20,000 bonus) easing down by four and a quarter lengths on 9 November at Taupo, and did very well for third after being awkwardly away in The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (Listed, 1340m) on 2 December at Wanganui. Freshened, she looked good in an exhibition gallop with stable-mate Sister Ping (below) on 2 January at Tauranga, and rates a top three chance in the $55,000 3YO 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.55.  

4:06 p.m. R2 1 Maracatu (2 g Ardrossan – Cortado) – Opie Bosson; he did very well after a torrid run for fourth on debut to subsequent Counties Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m) winner Velocious (Written Tycoon) in the 2YO 1000 metres on 11 November and displayed plenty of resolve when winning the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres 2 December, both at Te Rapa. Given time (43 days), he rates a top three chance in the $45,000 2YO 1200 metres one of three stablemates contesting the event. Fixed odds: $1.60 & $1.10. 

4:06 p.m. R2 3 Cognoscenti (2 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Warren Kennedy; he contested a competitive pace and kept giving for fourth when resuming in the 2YO 1100 metres on 16 December at Te Rapa, won impressively by stable-mate Move To Strike (I Am Invincible). He shapes to race well again, jumping from barrier five in the $45,000 2YO 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.30. 

4:06 p.m. R2 8 Sister Ping (2 f Street Boss – Illadore) – Joe Doyle; she was unpressured holding her rivals at bay to win a trial on 22 November at Taupo, and produced a notable third to Maracatu (above) when debuting in the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on 2 December at Te Rapa. She galloped well in an exhibition with stable-mate Egyptian Queen (above) on 2 January at Tauranga, but is required to do things right from barrier eight in the $45,000 2YO 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.00. 

4:41 p.m. R3 1 Talisker (3 g Embellish – Glenkinchie) – Opie Bosson; he capped off a hat-trick of wins with a terrific effort for second in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) during Cup Week at Riccarton, was freshened and kept giving for a close second to dual Group One winner Legarto (Proisir) in a trial on 2 January at Tauranga. Looking to utilise barrier three in the $55,000 3YO 1500 metres, he presents as a definite top three chance - one of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $2.20 & $1.25. 

4:41 p.m. R3 3 What You Wish For (3 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Warren Kennedy; he worked into contention rounding the home turn and kept lifting for a close third when resuming in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 22 December at Matamata. Impressive winning last season over 1300 metres, he was competitive against the best three-year-olds, and certainly can be right in the thick of the action at the business end, breaking from barrier four in the $55,000 3YO 1500 metres. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.30. 

5:16 p.m. R4 6 Wild Night (4 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Opie Bosson; he resumed with an eye-catching effort for third in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 30 November at Otaki, ran home fine in a trial on 22 December at Matamata, and found plenty to comfortably hold the challengers at bay in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on Boxing Day at Pukekohe. The Sarten Memorial (Gr. 2, 1400m) and Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m) winner, he was also second in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m), and third in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m), and he looks a top three prospect in the $65,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.25.

5:51 p.m. R5 9 War Of Succession (3 g Tavistock – Ziffel) – Opie Bosson; he raced clear in the straight to win the Maiden 1950 metres by four and a half lengths on 10 December at Rotorua, and steps up in the $100,000 Gingernuts Salver (Listed, 2100m). He built nicely to record a clear-cut victory, is bred to stay, and appears a top three chance from barrier three. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.

6:31 p.m. R6 9 Francee (4 m Iffraaj – Calveen) – Opie Bosson; she burst through late for second, running the fastest last 600m (35.0), in the Rating 65 1230 metres on 10 December at Rotorua, and powered home over the concluding stages to stylishly win the $80,000 Rating 65 1400 metres on Boxing Day at Pukekohe - also the final race on the programme. Stepping up in the $55,000 Rating 75 1500 metres, she can claim a first three position if she can secure a decent trip from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.45.