Te Akau North Island Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 17 horses entered on Saturday 10 December: Te Rapa, and Awapuni.   

Te Rapa:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: true. 6mls rain forecast Friday and 8mls Saturday.

12:40 p.m. R1 1 Trobriand (2 c Kermadec - Arboreal) - Opie Bosson; he led throughout to score comfortably when debuting in the 2YO 1200 metres on 28 October at New Plymouth, has been given time (43 days), and contests the $50,000 2YO 1100 metres. The form is good with runner-up She Turns Heads (Headwater) since finishing second again to stable-mate Tokyo Tycoon (Satono Aladdin) in the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres here on 26 November - the first of a T Akau trio engaged in the juvenile event. Fixed odds: $1.90 & $1.10.

12:40 p.m. R1 3 Final Red (2 g Burgundy - Tad Infinitum) - Sam Weatherley; he improved widest into the straight and sustained a strong finish to win a trial on Tuesday at Waipa, and debuts in the $50,000 2YO 1100 metres. From the family of 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Justa Tad (Istidaad), he is ideally drawn (2) and an emulation of his trial effort would ensure a bold performance. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $1.65.

12:40 p.m. R1 6 Never Forgotten (2 f Fastnet Rock - Memories of You) - Michael McNab; she finished fifth when debuting without a trial in the 2YO 1000 metres here on 5 November, won by stable-mate Viva Vienna (All Too Hard). She boasts a classy pedigree, has the blinkers on, and is ideally drawn (3) to show improvement. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $1.90.

1:15 p.m. R2 1 Wild Night (3 g Vanbrugh - Supreme) - Opie Bosson; he won both the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres and Rating 65 1400 metres in two starts at Matamata, before an exciting victory when coming from last to win the Sarten Memorial Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) here on 22 October. The winner of three from four, he has drawn wide (11) in the $50,000 3YO 1200 metres but nonetheless rates a top three chance - one of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.35.

1:15 p.m. R2 9 Caravella (3 f Caravaggio - Highland Lights) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); she appreciated better footing (Good4) when winning the Maiden 1200 metres on 22 October at Te Rapa, rounded off solidly for second in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and also contests the $50,000 3YO 1200 metres. She is aided by weight relief to 53kg, but much will depend on the trip she can secure from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00.

1:50 p.m. R3 9 Cote de Beaune (4 g Burgundy - Lucrative) - Opie Bosson; he remained back in the Rating 75 1200m on 29 October at Matamata, has been given time (42 days), and contests the $50,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. He won three of his five starts last season, and is looking to recapture that form but will need luck from the awkward draw (9). Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.50.

2:28 p.m. R4 17 Pin Me Up (4 m Pins - Brampton Loco) - Warren Kennedy; she had a lengthy spell after her super victory in the $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Listed, 1600m). She resumed running the fastest last 600m (35.0) on the day for second in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 12 November at Tauranga, and did well for a nose margin second in the Rating 75 1400 metres last Thursday at New Plymouth. Carrying the minimum weight (53kg) in the $100,000 J Swap Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m), she has the talent to prove competitive, but is another that has been dealt a harsh hand by her wide gate (13). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.

3:06 p.m. R5 10 Florencenightngale (4 m Rip Van Winkle - Reigning Dynasty) - Opie Bosson; she came clear to win easily on debut over 1230 metres in April at Rotorua, spelled, and most recently worked home nicely for third in a trial on 29 November at Avondale. Resuming in the $50,000 Rating 65 1300 metres, she has undoubted ability but (sounding repetitive) she too requires luck from her carpark barrier (18). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

4:13 p.m. R7 14 She's Outrageous (4 m Reliable Man - She's Insatiable) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); she flew through for victory at her third start on 29 October at Matamata, in the Maiden 1600 metres, and was a notable fourth in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 19 November at Pukekohe. She has the pedigree to handle stepping up in the $55,000 Rating 65 2200 metres, enjoys weight relief to 55kg, and is ideally drawn (5) to continue her previous good form. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.

4:49 p.m. R8 5 Self Obsession (4 m Shocking - Mawaakib) - Michael McNab; she returned to her gallant best for second in the Karaka Classic (Listed, 1500m) on 1 November and franked that by running second to stable-mate Aromatic (Sacred Falls) in the Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m) on 19 November, both at Pukekohe. She tied with stable-mate Belle En Rouge (Burgundy) for New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year honours, won the David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) here, and rates a top three prospect in the $120,000 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m) - the stablemates will again face off in the feature. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

4:49 p.m. R8 7 Aromatic (6 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay) - Craig Grylls; she capped good efforts in the Metric Mile (Gr. 3, 1550m), Staphanos Classic (Listed, 1950m), and Feilding Gold Cup (Listed, 2100m), by defeating stable-mate Self Obsession (above) in the Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m) on 19 November at Pukekohe - providing trainer Mark Walker his 100^thstakes win. She is ideally drawn (2) to rate a top four chance in the $120,000 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

5:29 p.m. R9 6 Shepherd's Delight (4 m Rip Van Winkle - Safari Sunset) - Opie Bosson; she ran out of room near the rail in the Rating 65 1400 metres here on 26 November and contests the $50,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. She finished second to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) last season and is capable of bold effort with a decent trip from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

Awapuni:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 6 metres (outside bend). 16mls rain forecast Friday and 21mls Saturday.

12:30 p.m. R1 1 Prismatic (4 g Savabeel - Kaleidoscope) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he made it three seconds in a row when claimed late in the Maiden 1950 metres on 30 November at Rotorua, and contests the $15,000 Maiden 2200 metres. He has drawn the outside gate (11), but brings the right form to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.30 & $1.30.

1:37 p.m. R3 5 Felicienne (4 m Savabeel - Flavigny) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she stretched out nicely late for fourth in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Terrifically consistent, she ended her previous campaign finishing second over 1600 metres, won Maiden at 1400 metres, and rates a top three prospect from barrier two - one of a Te Akau duo. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75.

1:37 p.m. R3 6 Stonybreck (3 g Tavistock - Fair Isle) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he finished second to stable-mate Kabugee (Satono Aladdin) in the 3YO 1215 metres on 16 October at Rotoura, has been freshened, and then was held up with more to offer in a trial on 29 November at Avondale. He rates a top three chance in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

2:12 p.m. R4 16 Hero Worship (4 g Xtravagant - Idol) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he produced an astonishing victory in the Rating 65 1050 metres 29 October at Matamata, and then ran the fastest last 600m (34.7) for fifth in the Rating 75 1100 metres on 26 November at Te Rapa. He has first four claims in the $30,000 Rating 75 1300 metres. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

4.34 p.m. R8 6 Family Ties (3 f Contributer - Glamazon) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); she had form around her, including a third to stable-mate Wild Night (aboard), who subsequently completed a hat-trick in the Sarten Memorial (Gr. 2, 1400m), before sustaining a strong finish to score comfortably in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 13 November at Hastings. Given time (27 days), she steps up in the $85,000 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and shapes to race well from barrier one if appreciative of conditions. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.