Te Akau Ellerslie Thursday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses racing on Thursday 29 December at Ellerslie.

As on Wednesday 24 December the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 2.5 metres 1000m - 400m, remainder true. 3mls forecast 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. race day.

12.45 p.m. R1 4 Latin Rose (5 m Mastercraftsman - Down View) - Opie Bosson; freshened since a great run for second in the Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) during cup week at Riccarton, she resumes off 50 days from barrier one in the $27,500 Rating 85 1200 metres. A half-sister to Mexican Rose (Volksraad), the dam of debut winning stable-mate Nucleonic (Burgundy) on Tuesday at New Plymouth, she ran her final 600m in a rather phenomenal 31.7 at Riccarton. She has won and finished second three times from thirteen starts, two of those victories coming in a fresh state and can be afforded a good chance from the inside gate.

1.20 p.m. R2 8 Iffragal (2 f Iffraaj - Regal Thrills) - Opie Bosson; ran on strongly from fourth, closing the margin to a head, on debut in the $30,000 Wentwood Grange 2YO Premier 1100 metres on 10 December at Te Rapa, and contests the $10,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres. At the trials, she was a four-length winner before going to the races and previously finished fourth to subsequent Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) winner Prom Queen (Super Easy). Bosson won the two-year-old race, from back and wide, here on Boxing Day, and will again face a similar issue off the outside gate. A bit of luck should see another bold performance.

4.50 p.m. R8 8 Tatters (4 m Tavistock - Rattle) - Opie Bosson; resumes off 173 days in the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres, having trialled with Bosson aboard over 1000 metres on 13 December at Te Aroha. Twice a winner at the distance, each on slow going, she is a bonny mare of above average ability and with improvement to come should be finding the line off an economical trip from barrier three.