Te Akau Ellerslie Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Sunday 11 January at Ellerslie. 

Ellerslie:  

Weather: cloudy, track: Good4, markers: out 7 metres. No rain forecast.

12:57 p.m. R1 4 Zaharias (2 f Super Seth – Green Roller) – Joe Doyle; she produced a solid effort for second on debut in the 2YO 900 metres on 26 October at Trentham, and emulated that performance for second in the 2YO 1000 metres on 12 November at Riccarton. Freshened since, she brings runner-up form from her first two starts, and rates a top three chance from barrier four in the $55,000 2YO 1200 metres - as she looks to secure a Karaka Millions' spot. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.95.

1:35 p.m. R2 3 King’s English (3 c Snitzel – English) – Craig Grylls; he ran on well for third in his first two starts at Taupo, and quickened away to win easily by five and three-quarter lengths in the Maiden 1150 metres on 26 November at Te Aroha, also with Craig Grylls aboard. He has been patiently handled and given time (46 days) to get through that win, he has progressed well since, is ideally drawn (3), and he looks a real danger in the $55,000 3YO 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.45.

3:59 p.m. R6 4 Day One (3 g Wootton Bassett – Eleonora) – Rory Hutchings; he ran home strongly for a close fifth when debuting in the Maiden 1400 metres on 16 November at Rotorua, and displayed his quality when quickening to win the Maiden 3YO 1600 metres here on 11 December. He steps up in class for the $100,000 Listed Trackside Gingernuts Salver (2100m), a race that honours our special legend 'Jerry'. His dam Eleonora (Makfi) won Group 3 Sunline Vase (2100m) here on course - he is a talented individual with a bright future, so from barrier three he should be poised to pounce. Fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.50.

4:34 p.m. R7 1 Dream Of The Moon (4 m All Too Hard – Moonchild) – Craig Grylls; she finished strongly from back on the inner for fourth when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on Boxing Day (26 Dec), and contests the $55,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. She was up to the best three-year-olds last season, including an impressive victory in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m), and was stakes' placed three times 1100m – 1400m, and rates a top three chance from barrier six. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

Main picture: King's English winning