Te Akau Hastings Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Saturday 7 September at Hastings.   

Hastings:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

2:05 p.m. R5 1 Move To Strike (3 c I Am Invincible – No Evidence Needed) – Opie Bosson; a finalist for the Champion 2YO award to be announced on Sunday, he has been solid in two preparatory trials, finishing second and third, respectively, and resumes in the $90,000 El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m), a race won by Te Akau in the past two years with Dynastic and Tokyo Tycoon. This colt was an impressive debut winner, who ended his two-year-old campaign with a brilliant victory in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m, and he is a worthy top three contender. Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.10. 

3:22 p.m. R7 3 Captured By Love (3 f Written Tycoon – Moldova) – Opie Bosson; she lengthened from outside the leader, with ears pricked, to win when trialling on 21 August at Taupo, and resumes in the $120,000 Group 3 HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes 1200m. Another finalist for the Chapiopn 2YO of the Year award on Sunday, she is a multiple Group winner.  She was twice a Group Two winner and twice Group One placed last season, ending her juvenile campaign with third to Move To Strike (above) in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes. A class act, she rates a top three chance - one of two stablemates contesting the filly feature, a first step in the NZB Filly of the Year contest. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.45. 

3:22 p.m. R7 5 Damask Rose (3 f Savabeel – Sombreuil) – Wiremu Pinn; she followed her debut win with great effort for second in the Karaka Millions 2YO 1200m last season, and looked good in an exhibition gallop on 21 August at Taupo. Also resuming in the $120,000 Group 3 HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes, she has first four claims in a very strong field - watch for her to be wearing the Daffodil Day colours as we support this important Cancer Society fundraiser. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $3.30. 

4:28 p.m. R9 7 Skew Wiff (5 m Savabeel – Starvoia) – Opie Bosson; she resumed with a top run for third in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate 1200m on 24 August at Te Rapa, also with Bosson aboard, and defends her title in the $400,000 Group1 Westbury Stud Tarzino Trophy 1400m. The winner of this race last year on Soft5 footing, she transferred to our Australian stable and subsequently won the Group 3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington. She has the fitness, talent and determination to deliver a top three finish with a decent trip from barrier 11 - the right man is aboard for that task. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.95.