Te Akau Karaka Million Night Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses entered during the six-race premier twilight programme on Sunday Jan. 26 at Ellerslie.

As on Friday Jan. 24 the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail out 2 metres.

5:09pm R1 10 Equanimity (3 f More Than Ready - Insouciant) - James McDonald; boomed home from off the pace to score an impressive debut win on Jan. 6 in the Maiden 3YO 1230 metres at Rotorua. She has trained on in a pleasing manner since and appears a strong chance from barrier one in the Special Conditions 1400 metres. Her dam, Insouciant (Keeper), was a winner on debut over 1200 metres before going on to win the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600) in 2007 and Equanimity is her first foal.

6:13pm R3 6 Sir Darci (3 g Darci Brahma - Dominant) - Kelly Myers; put in a brave performance for third after working across from a wide gate to race outside the leader here on Jan. 11 in the Benchmark 65 1400 metres. Drawn barrier nine in the Karaka 3YO Mile (Listed, 1600m), he has fashioned a record worthy of tackling this kind of race and has the turn of foot to prove competitive if able to secure a smooth passage from barrier nine - one of three in the race for Te Akau.

6:13pm R3 13 Spellbinder (3 f O'Reilly - Scenic Sprint) - Matt Cameron; exuded her class late in the piece with an impressive win here on Jan. 11 in the Benchmark 75 1200 metres when resuming from a  56-day break after finishing third to stable-mate Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Riccarton. Unbeaten in two starts on the course, having won the Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m) by six and a half lengths in September, she appears the obviously race favourite and should receive all favours from barrier one.

6:13pm R3 14 Flirty Gertey (3 f Thorn Park - Granma Gertey) - Leith Innes; had her chances extinguished when almost losing the jockey in the early stages of the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) here on Boxing Day and comes into this contest off 31-days. With blinkers on to boost her confidence, she has the foot speed to negate a wide barrier and already a course winner she is capable of producing a bold performance in this field.

7:20pm R5 15 Flaming (2 f Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - rider to be advised; requires a scratching to make the field for the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m). She has displayed attributes of determination and ability when finishing fourth in each of her three starts, including the Murdoch Newell Stakes (Listed, 1100m), and although drawn wide would not be without a chance if able to gain entry. At her most recent start, here on Jan. 11, she was carted wide from barrier rise to settle last and sustained a big finish wide on the track.