Te Akau Hastings Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses racing during the twilight meeting on Thursday 8 December at Hastings.

As on Wednesday 7 December the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true. 5mls rain forecast race day morning.

3.22 p.m. R1 2 Herschal (4 g Savabeel - Starring) - Jonathan Riddell; stuck on after racing outside the leader in the Maiden 1580 metres a fortnight ago at Waipa, and appears suited to a step up in distance for the Maiden 2000 metres. He should receive a perfect trip from barrier three and the field should provide a better chance of finishing closer.

5.49 p.m. R5 6 Splurge (4 g Savabeel - Splashing Out) - Michael McNab; ended his previous campaign winning by over five lengths on a heavy track over 1400 metres at Otaki, and resumes in the Rating 75 1200 metres with a record of two wins and a second from five starts. He trialled recently for third, with McNab aboard, behind Group One winner Perfect Fit (Elusive City) and subsequent winner Sultan of Swing (Bachelor Duke) over 935 metres at Cambridge, and the eye-catching nature of that performance makes him an interesting fresh up runner from barrier two.

7.29 p.m. R8 10 Fastnet Fire (4 m Fastnet Rock - Dragon's Tail) - Michael McNab; found the line solidly when resuming in the Maiden 1400 metres on rain-affected footing at Avondale, and steps up to a mile. Finishing strongly when runner-up on debut in May, her second up performance here over the same distance (1600m) was the best of her four starts to date and a repeat should give her good each way prospects in this field.