Te Akau New Plymouth Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has two horses racing on Thursday 5 April at New Plymouth.

As on race morning the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 10 metres. No rain forecast.

1.33 p.m. R3 7 Ristretto (2 f Makfi - Espresso Cavallo) - Shafiq Rusof; has displayed gate speed and plenty of talent in winning her two trials, at Taupo, and Cambridge, respectively, and debuts from barrier seven in the $10,000 Maiden 2YO 1100 metres. From a Lonhro (Octagonal) mare, in turn from a mare by Volksraad (Green Desert), she will be strongly favoured to win.

4.37 p.m. R8 4 Qian Cheng (3 g Artie Schiller - Alpine Belle) - Shafiq Rusof; given time following a good debut effort for third in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 29 November at Rotorua, he put up a tidy performance to win his trial on 20 March at Taupo, and resumes from barrier seven in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. With pedigree to go further, he also has the right credentials to prove a force fresh-up over a shorter trip.