Te Akau New Year's Day Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has nine horses racing on New Year's Day at Ellerslie, Hastings, and Waikouaiti.

Ellerslie:

As on Saturday 31 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 4 metres. 1ml forecast overnight.

1.18 p.m. R2 4 Beaumarchais (3 g Savabeel - Almaviva) - Opie Bosson; presented in terrific order before winning his Maiden by two lengths over 1400 metres 2 November at Avondale, and freshened with bigger assignments in mind he resumes off 60 days in the $50,000 Special Conditions 1400 metres. In a quality field which also contains his inform half-sister La Casona (Tavistock), he is perfectly drawn in barrier one and brings the right form to warrant solid support. Fixed odds: $5.20 & $2.00.

1.56 p.m. R3 7 Gold Fever (2 f Savabeel - Gold Rocks) - Cameron Lammas; created a very good impression when winning on debut over 1000 metres at Te Rapa, with Lammas aboard, and just missed claiming race rival Dijon Bleu (Burgundy) when coming from fifth with a strong late finish in the 2YO 1100 metres on 18 December at Awapuni. Drawn barrier four in the $70,000 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m), she has blinkers added to her gear and a filly with the “attitude and toughness” to give it a good shake. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.60.

2.34 p.m. R4 1 Dame Margo Fonteyn (3 f High Chaparral - Dancing Forever) - Matt Cameron; raced in front and never flinched when winning the Rating 65 1600 metres on 14 December at Matamata, after becoming the hundredth winner trained by Te Akau for John Galvin and his Fortuna Syndications with a smart fresh-up performance in the Maiden 1400 metres a fortnight earlier at New Plymouth. Up in class to contest the $100,000 Stella Artois Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), Cameron continues his association, her dam impressed winning over 2000 metres on good footing in
January, and she can be afforded a good each way chance in this field. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.50.

2.34 p.m. R4 7 Madam Monica (3 f Mastercraftsman - Lynisky) - Opie Bosson; missed by a nose last time out in the Maiden 3YO 1600 metres on 9 December at Tauranga, after covering a lot of extra ground from the rear when finishing third in the Maiden 3YO 1600 metres at Te Rapa. Despite still being a Maiden, she has been racing very well of late to warrant inclusion in a race like this and should go well providing she does everything right from barrier four. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.30.

4.57 p.m. R8 18 Zambezi Warrior (4 g Pentire - Zambezi) - Michael McNab; made plenty of ground from last in the Rating 85 2200 metres here on 3 December, on the back of winning the Rating 85 1800 metres on 18 November at New Plymouth, and the winner of four races, and runner-up here in the $100,000 Championship Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m), steps into the top staying ranks to contest the $200,000 Laser Plumbing Te Puke City of Auckland Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m). Weighted on the minimum (53kgs), he has a wide draw to overcome but does not lack for ability and should be finishing solidly in a race that could develop into a genuine staying test. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $5.00.

6.17 p.m. R10 5 Our Abbadean (4 m Lookin at Lucky - Highland Lights) - Opie Bosson; came of age in the manner of her impressive win on 10 December in the Rating 75 1400 metres at Awapuni, following a freshen-up, and remains in the same grade for the $50,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. Running home in 34 for the last 600m, seemingly with ease, she has what it takes to prove competitive in this field with a touch of luck from barrier twelve. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.20.

Hastings:

As on Saturday 31 December the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true. No rain forecast.

2.08 p.m. R3 1 Zavistic (3 g Zacinto - Miss Avalon) - Jasmine Fawcett (a4); could not have been more consistent as a two-year-old with his four starts yielding four thirds. Gelded since last racing in June, he made up plenty of ground with this Te Akau apprentice aboard when trialling over 1000 metres on 13 December at Te Aroha. He has the gate speed to utilize barrier three in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres and will be strongly supported under the luxurious weight of 53.5kgs.

3.58 p.m. R6 4 Astrid (5 m Pins - Astralita) - Jasmine Fawcett (a4); resumes off 162 days in the Rating 75 1200 metres, following a good trial performance for fourth, with this apprentice up, on 13 December at Te Aroha. A fresh-up winner over 1200 metres in October last year, carrying only 53kgs can see her competitive in this field if things pan out favourably from barrier two.

Waikouaiti:

As on Saturday 31 December the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail true. 2.5mls forecast overnight.

4.07 p.m. R7 9 Madame Jamai (5 m Minstrel Court - Palais Jamai) - Chris Johnson; freshened since contesting a very hot race in the $50,000 Pegasus Handicap (Listed, 1000m) on the first day of cup week, 5 November, at Riccarton, she had found plenty on the same course prior when finishing third in the Rating 75 1200 metres, with Johnson aboard, and contests the $12,000 Rating 85 1250 metres. While First Serve (Swiss Ace) will be all the rage, despite lumping 62.5kgs, rivals like Madame Jamai can prove competitive especially if they act on this course.