Te Akau Ellerslie & Hastings Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing on New Year's Day: Ellerslie, and Hastings.

Ellerslie:

As on race morning the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

1.55 p.m. R3 1 Aotea Lad (2 g Savabeel - Corsage) - Opie Bosson; created an immediate impression with a debut victory in the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m) on 8 December at Trentham, ridden by Bosson. His dam, Corsage (Volksraad), was a winner and placed in the Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) here, and he rates a genuine contender in the $70,000 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.40.

3.08 p.m. R5 10 Luminous (3 f Reliable Man - Keenly) - Opie Bosson; has finished second twice, most recently in the Maiden 1600 metres on 7 December at Matamata, when rushing home in the one of the eye-catching runs on the day. A standout white filly, from the talented race mare Keenly (Keeninsky), winner of three races up to 2200 metres, she should appreciate stepping up in distance for the $100,000 Valachi Downs Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.75.

5.28 p.m. R9 1 Melody Belle (4 m Commands - Meleka Belle) - Shafiq Rusof; has impressively won two trials since winning the Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 22 September at Hastings, during a short campaign that saw her unbeaten in three starts, including the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) and Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400 metres), ridden in each by Shafiq. The Champion Two-Year-Old of her year, and winner of the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) and Mongolian Khan Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) on the course, she has been favourite from the outset for the $200,000 Sistema Railway (Gr. 1, 1200m). Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.25.

Hastings:

As on race morning the conditions were: cloudyand Dead4, rail true. No rain forecast.

12.56 p.m. R1 1 King Kane (5 g Showcasing - Vannista Belle) - Dylan Turner; returned to form with second in the Rating 65 1560 metres on 28 November at Rotorua, and backed it up with a notable fourth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on Waikato Cup Day (Dec. 15) at Te Rapa. A course winner, he brings the right form to threaten in the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.40.

1.31 p.m. R2 2 Duck Road (3 g Ekraar - Silver Buttons) - Dylan Turner; performed well in three trials before finishing third on debut in September at Taupo, and freshened following his second-up run. Ideally drawn (3) in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, he appears nicely placed to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $6.80 & $1.90.

2.44 p.m. R4 1 Motivation (4 g Mastercraftsman - Tenacity) - Nik Bakar (a4); continued his consistent place form with a third in the Rating 65 2100 metres on 14 December at Tauranga. Assisted by weight relief to 56kgs and handily drawn (5) in the $10,000 Rating 65 2100 metres, he receives an ideal opportunity to break through. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.22.

4.30 p.m. R7 8 Shezathinka (3 f So You Think - Headsup) - Dylan Turner; followed a competitive last 600m on debut with an improved performance for second here in the Maiden 1200 metres on 12 December, and appears suited stepping in distance for the $10,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 1400 metres. Her dam, Headsup (Thorn Park), impressed winning over 1400m/1600m. Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.50.