Te Akau Melbourne Cup Day NZ Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday 2 November): Te Rapa and Wingatui.

Te Rapa:

Weather: overcast, track: Slow8, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

12.33 p.m. R2 8 Spectrier (3 g Vadamos - Selenus) - Opie Bosson; never fired when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 15 October at Te Aroha, and steps up in the $20,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. His dam, Selenus (Pentire), won five times from 1600m - 2200m. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.00.

12.33 p.m. R2 10 Trieste  (3 f Tivaci - Domani Oro) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); ran fastest last 600m (35.8) when finishing strongly for second in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 15 October at Te Aroha, and contests a $20,000 corresponding event. She should race well again with right trip from barrier eight. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

4.18 p.m. R8 5 Miss Aotearoa  (4 m Per Incanto - Danex) - Opie Bosson; won the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) last season, before a long lay-off post surgery. Given plenty of tine by her owners, she resumed with notable fifth and eighth in Rating 74 1200 metres events during Hawkes Bay Carnival. Suited stepping up in $40,000 Rating 74 1400 metres, she rates a top three chance from barrier two. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.60.

Wingatui:

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. Showers forecast.

1.32 p.m. R4 1 Leaderboard (7 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Sanu Toolooa (a3); ended his previous campaign winning consecutively to 2400 metres, but has seemed below his best in his last two outings. Dropping in grade from the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) on 23 October at Riccarton, he contests the $30,000 Rating 74 2200 metres and is aided by weight relief to 59.5kg. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.