Te Akau NZ New Year's Day Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has eleven horses racing on 1 January: Ellerslie and Hastings.

Ellerslie:

Weather: overcast, track: Dead5, rail: true. 

12.28 p.m. R1 17 Man Oh Man  (4 g Reliable Man - Lumir) - Opie Bosson; fought well for fourth after setting a genuine pace here in the Maiden 2100 metres on 12 December, following a third and second. He brings the right form to rate a top four chance in the $50,000 Special Conditions Maiden 2100 metres. Fixed odds: $41.00 & $8.00.

2.13 p.m. R4 2 Lilikoi (3 f Charm Spirit - Barbadine) - James McDonald; proved too good winning the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 14 December at Awapuni, and steps up in the $100,000 Valachi Downs Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m). Sporting plenty of positive factors: draw (3), form line, times, pedigree, and rider, she should perform very well if appreciative of the course at her first attempt. Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.40.

3.23 p.m. R6 9 Star of Bombay  (3 f Atlante - Astardia) - Craig Grylls; was nabbed on debut by subsequent Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) and Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) placed Showoroses (Showcasing). After winning her Maiden by four lengths on 24 November at Te Rapa, she dished it up to a smart field here in the Rating 65 3YO 1400 metres on 15 December. Up in class for the $100,000 Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas (Gr. 2, 1600m), she has the quality to measure up with the right trip from barrier eight. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.25.

3.58 p.m. R7 11 Prise De Fer (4 g Savabeel - Foiled) - Michael Dee; made it back-to-back wins carrying top weight (60kgs) to victory in the Rating 72 1600 metres on 2 November at Pukekohe, and notched a hat-trick here in the Dunstan Feeds Championship Qualifier (Rating 82, 1500 metres) on 7 December. Competitive in stakes races at three, he drops in weight (53kgs) for the $100,000 Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) and just requires the right run from a wide gate (13) to get amongst it. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.90.

4.33 p.m. R8 11 Savy Yong Blonk  (4 m Savabeel - Ampin) - Michael Dee; made amends after being blocked in the Rating 72 2100 metres on 16 November at Tauranga, with another impressive victory under 59kgs in the Rating 72 2100 metres here on 7 December. Dropping in weight (55.5kgs), she was stakes placed on the course at three in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m) and up to this field in the $200,000 Sky City of Auckland Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m). Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.30.

Hastings:

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

1.25 p.m. R2 2 Laureate  (3 g Snitzel - Floria) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); was gelded after debuting in October and sustained a good run into third when trialling on 16 December at Te Aroha. A beautifully bred horse, destined to go further, he has weight relief to 54.5kgs and appears ideally placed to race well from barrier three in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.45.

1.25 p.m. R2 5 O'Connor  (3 g Charm Spirit - Courtney) - Ryoya Kozaki; finished second when trialling on 16 December at Te Aroha, and debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. From impressive winning mare Courtney (Montjeu) (2000m - 2500m), he is bred to go considerably further, but looks an ideal starting point and has zip about him. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.45.

2.00 p.m. R3 2 Pokuru's Gift  (4 g Rock ‘n' Pop - Pokuru Boxer) - Ryoya Kozaki; freshened after resuming with an accomplished victory in the Maiden 1000 metres on 10 October at Tauherenikau. He ran well for third in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 6 December at Matamata, and contests the $10,000 Rating 65 1100 metres. With the speed to negate barrier 10, he rates an each way chance. Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.45.

2.00 p.m. R3 3 Challa (3 g Dissident - Are There Any) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); resumed with a dominant victory in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 1 November at New Plymouth, and followed with a fifth and fourth, respectively, up in grade over 1200 metres at Awapuni. Back in distance for the $10,000 Rating 65 1100 metres, with weight relief to 55.5kgs, he rates a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.50.

4.19 p.m. R7 1 Spirit of Galway (4 m Rip Van Winkle - Galway) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); worked home well from last to grab third when resuming here on 11 December in the Maiden 1200 metres. Consistent recording two seconds, four thirds, and a fourth from eight starts, and unlucky not to have won, she has receives weight relief to 54.5kgs and is capable of another bold performance from barrier two in the $10,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.30.

4.54 p.m. R8 4 Enrichment  (3 g Rock ‘N' Pop - Enhance) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); capped solid form when showing grit to win the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 4 December at Pukekohe. Battling after working up second on slow ground in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 21 December at Awapuni, and aided by weight relief to 54kgs, he can show improvement from barrier three in the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.40.

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