Te Akau Hawera Friday Preview
Date: 25 Mar 2022
Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Friday 25 March at Hawera.
Weather: showery, track: Dead5, rail: out 5 metres. 18mls rain forecast Thursday, 3mls Friday.
1:22 p.m. R3 9 Iff I Get Paaid (2 f Iffraaj - Vernal) - Kozzi Asano; ran home solidly for fifth when debuting in a 2YO 1100 metres on Boxing Day, won by stable-mate Grace ‘N' Grey (Spirit of Boom), and then finished back in a Maiden 2YO 1100 metres won by subsequent Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) winner Lickety Split (Turn Me Loose) on 19 February, both at Ellerslie. Given time (34 days), she faces a softer assignment in the $12,000 2YO 1100 metres and is ideally drawn (2) to show improvement.
2:32 p.m. R5 3 Rip Van Gogh (4 g Rip Van Winkle - On the Move) - Michael McNab; pinned his ears back when winning a Maiden 1300 metres on 2 February at Te Rapa, and was only grabbed late when second to stable-mate Pure Imagination (Darci Brahma) in a Rating 65 1200 metres on 20 February at Hastings. Given time (33 days), he rates a top four chance from barrier 10 in the $12,000 Rating 65 1200 metres - one of two in the event for the stable.
2:32 p.m. R5 10 Millefiori (3 f Iffraaj - Miss Bluebell) - Kozzi Asano; won two of three starts as a two-year-old and was spelled after the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) in October at Matamata, won by stable-mate and subsequent Group 1 winner Imperatriz (I Am Invincible). Following two trials, she resumes in the $12,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. With luck from the awkward draw (14) she has the ability to race well.
3:47 p.m. R7 4 Sophisticardo (3 g Burgundy - Glamorous Girl) - Kozzi Asano; was hemmed up on the inner after getting back from a wide draw (17) in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) on 22 January at Ellerslie, won by stable-mate Pin Me Up (Pins), and was third to stable-mate and subsequent Group 1 fourth-placed Mohawk Brave (Extreme Choice) in a 3YO 1400 metres on 2 March at Hastings. He rates a top three prospect in the $12,000 Rating 74 1400 metres which features two stable runners.
3:47 p.m. R7 6 Pure Imagination (3 g Darci Brahma - Granadilla) - Michael McNab; looked good winning on debut over 1200 metres in September at Te Rapa, and resumed beating stable-mate Rip Van Gogh (above) in a Rating 65 1200 metres on 20 February at Hastings. Given time (33 days), he also rates a top three chance in the $12,000 Rating 74 1400 metres.
4:27 p.m. R8 6 La Flora Belle (4 m Iffraaj - Tsarina Belle) - Michael McNab; impressed when winning a Maiden 1600 metres by four and a half lengths on 23 February at Pukekohe, and steps up in the $12,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. Placed here at her only attempt, she is racing well and can finish in the first three from her handy barrier two.
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