Te Akau Hastings Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses racing on Sunday 22 October at Hastings.

As on Saturday 21 October the conditions were: cloudy and Dead4, rail true. No rain forecast.

2.00 p.m. R3 1 Hushed (7 g Don Eduardo - Danewhisper) - Opie Bosson; worked home in staying fashion when resuming in the Rating 85 1400 metres on 4 October at Ruakaka, with Bosson aboard, running his final 600m (35.3) faster than the winner. Up in distance for the $40,000 Rating 85 1600 metres, he carriers top weight (60.5kgs) and drawn wide (10) which makes it tricky, but still has the ability to produce a bold performance in a race run to suit and then looking to step over more ground. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.10.

4.56 p.m. R8 3 Chance To Dance (8 g Teofilo - Crystal Ballet) - Leith Innes; could not have asked for a better lead up run to the $250,000 Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m), scoring fresh-up in the Haunui Farm Karaka Classic (Listed, 1600m) on 24 September at Pukekohe. That, off the back of a top second at the trials to subsequent dual winner Deals In Heels (Iffraaj). The winner of six races from 2000m - 2400m, he is ideally suited by weight-for-age conditions and while stepping up in competition he should perform very well. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.80.

4.56 p.m. R8 11 Gingernuts (4 g Iffraaj - Double Elle) - Opie Bosson; was super in his effort to beat a similar field here on 23 September in the Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m), under a great ride by Bosson, to record his third Group One win. Drawn barrier 11 of 14 runners in the $250,000 Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) stiffens the task, but prior renditions have often seen winners come from beyond midfield, such is the pressure of the race, and after winning the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), and Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m), the advent of a hotly contested affair is just what he needs. Fixed odds: $1.80 & $1.15.

The pair had an exhibition gallop between races last Saturday at Matamata, given the Limavol was rescheduled after the meeting was abandoned on 7 October at Hastings.

On slow ground, Gingernuts, with Opie Bosson aboard, and Chance To Dance under Leith Innes, worked over 1200 metres in 1:15.6, 1000m in 1:01.5, 800m in 48.2, and last 600m in 35.1.

On hand to witness the gallop, Te Akau principal David Ellis, who purchased both horses, said: “I thought it was really good work by Chance To Dance and an exceptional gallop from Gingernuts, and they are both great chances in the Livamol.”