Te Akau Tauranga Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses racing on Wednesday 23 August at Tauranga.

As on Tuesday 22 August the conditions were: cloudy and Heavy11, rail out 8.5 metres. No rain forecast.

1.10 p.m. R3 2 Epic Tale (4 g Snitzel - Mini Tales) - Michael McNab; recorded a dominant trial win over 820 metres after sitting outside the leader on 1 August at Te Teko, with Te Akau apprentice Wiremu Pinn aboard, and resumes in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. During four starts in his first campaign, he showed when finishing third over 1400 metres to subsequent New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) runner-up Devise (Darci Brahma) at Hastings, that he could foot it with some talented gallopers. He has the gate speed to put himself in the race, handled heavy footing in his trial, and appears to be presented with an ideal first-up assignment.

2.54 p.m. R6 8 Esprit De Corps (5 g Bel Esprit - Vercors) - Cameron Lammas; never fired over 1350 metres on 12 July at Avondale, and had no chance from last after beginning slowly in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 26 July at Matamata. He won his Maiden by nearly four lengths on Heavy10 over 1400 metres in June last year, has a senior rider aboard, blinkers on, and was beaten by a head here in April at his only course attempt. At best, he certainly has what it takes to threaten in the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres.

3.29 p.m. R7 5 Lady Pinot (4 m Starspangledbanner - Madame Echezeaux) - Tegan Newman (a4); beat a good field two starts ago in the Rating 65 1200 metres on Heavy10 at Te Teko, and looked a real chance before yielding late to finish a close third in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 12 August at Pukekohe. Back to midweek racing after contesting a Saturday event generally has its advantages and weight relief to 53kgs should also enhance her prospects in the $11,000 Rating 70 1200 metres.