Te Akau Million Dollar Day Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Saturday 25 January: Ellerslie, and Riccarton.

Ellerslie (Karaka Million twilight meeting):

Weather: Drizzling, track: Dead5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

6.30 p.m. R4 2 Cool Aza Beel (2 c Savabeel - Cool ‘N' Sassy) - Opie Bosson; ran the fastest last 600m on the day (34.4) when impressively winning the 2YO 1200 metres last Friday at Tauranga, and reported to have trained on very well since. Drawn barrier two in the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m), he provides a strong chance for Te Akau to record a four-peat in the iconic race, following Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands), Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage (Fastnet Rock), and Probabeel (Savabeel). Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.35.

6.30 p.m. R4 3 Bordeaux Le Rouge  (2 g Burgundy - De La Vere) - Craig Grylls; was backed as nearly unbeatable ($1.30) when winning the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on 30 November at Ellerslie, and finished fourth here in the 2YO 1200 metres on 12 January. Ideally drawn (6), he has proved himself competitive and should race well in the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $51.00 & $6.00.

7.42 p.m. R6 11 Probabeel (3 f Savabeel - Far Fetched) - Opie Bosson; freshened after finishing second in the Flight Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), following fourth in the Furious Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) and second in the Tea Rose Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) during the Princess Series at Randwick, Sydney. She resumed with a classy winning performance in the 3YO 1400 metres on 4 January at Awapuni. The Karaka Million winner from last year is attempting to become the first horse to win the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) a year on. Fixed odds: $1.85 & $1.10. 

Riccarton:

Weather: fine, track: Dead4, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12.45 p.m. R2 8 Under Her Spell (2 f Not A Single Doubt - Bewitching) - Kozzi Asano (a2); began smartly to cross and lead with a handy advantage and kept going solidly for third when trialling on 14 January at Matamata, and debuts in the $22,500 NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO 800 metres (eligible $8,000 bonus). Drawn barrier four, with the premiership leading rider aboard, she should go well.  

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