Te Akau North Island Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 11 horses entered on Easter Saturday (16 April): Te Rapa, and Hastings.

Te Rapa:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:48 p.m. R2 5 Treaty of Paris (2 c Tavistock - Echezeaux) - Opie Bosson; sustained a strong run for second when drawing clear with the leader at the trials on 22 March at Cambridge (poly-track), and debuts in the $30,000 2YO 1100 metres. Te Akau trained his dam Echezeaux (Encosta de Lago), the stakes' placed winner of four races from 1600m - 2100m, who is from the family of the David Ellis purchased Darci Brahma (Danehill) and Burgundy (Redoute's Choice). He has looked good at the trials but requires a good dose of luck from the awkward draw (9). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.10.

2:29 p.m. R5 2 The Mighty Spar (4 g Savabeel - O'Dianne) - Opie Bosson; was unable to quicken on Slow8 footing in a Rating 74 1400 metres on 20 March at Tauranga, but bounced back with huge run for second (fastest last 600m: 35.2) after missing the start in a Rating 74 1600 metres on 2 April at Awapuni. Placed two from three attempts on course, he rates a top three chance in the $30,000 Rating 74 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.35.

3:04 p.m. R6 2 Cote de Beaune (3 g Burgundy - Lucrative) - Opie Bosson; won his first two starts and was claimed late when second fresh-up in a 3YO 1200 metres on 12 March at Trentham. He since sustained a strong gallop for second in a trial on 5 April at Cambridge (poly-track), and contests the $30,000 Join Team Te Akau - Shares Available 3YO 1200 metres. He is up to the task, but does requires luck from his tough draw (13) - one of three in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80.

3:04 p.m. R6 3 Ragamuffin (3 g Belardo - Short Tale) - Niranjan Paramar (a3); got his nose down on the line to beat stable-mate Pisco Sour (I Am Invincible) when resuming in a Maiden 1200 metres on 2 March at Hastings, and produced big late bounds (fastest last 600m: 35.7) to win a Rating 65 1400 metres on 30 March at Matamata. He is ideally drawn (2) in the $30,000 Join Team Te Akau - Shares Available 3YO 1200 metres and is racing in great fettle. Fixed odds: $$7.50 & $2.50.

3:04 p.m. R6 9 Shepherd's Delight (3 f Rip Van Winkle - Safari Sunset) - Michael McNab; backed up her Maiden win with a tremendous second to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) - part of a Te Akau first four. Spelled following the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m), she rounded off nicely in a trial on 22 March at Cambridge (poly-track), and resumes in the $30,000 Join Team Te Akau - Shares Available 3YO 1200 metres. Certainly capable, she does however require luck from her wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00.

3:39 p.m. R7 4 Mai Tai (5 m Atlante - Tropical Punch) - Leith Innes; beaten a nose in the Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, she was claimed near the line in the Cuddle Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on Oaks' Day (19 March) at Trentham. She was fine off a tough trip in a trial last Saturday at Rotorua, and contests the $220,000 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m). She possesses a good course record, has genuine attributes, and is suitably drawn (5) to race well - one of two for trainer Mark Walker. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $3.00.

3:39 p.m. R7 7 Imperatriz (3 f I Am Invincible - Berimbau) - Opie Bosson; recorded a devastating five-length win, running the fastest 600m on the day (34.1), in the Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m) on 26 February at Matamata, and led home a Te Akau first four in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Oaks' Day (19 Mar.) at Trentham. At her only course attempt she won the Northland Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) fresh-up last September. The winner of six from nine, she warrants favouritism in the $220,000 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m). Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.10.

4:52 p.m. R9 1 Navalha (3 g Sebring - Afiado) - Opie Bosson; came from last with a strong finish for fifth when resuming in a Rating 74 1100 metres on 30 January and was doing his best work late from last (33.6 600m) in a Rating 74 1200 metres on 5 March, both at Ellerslie. He made up plenty of ground with a strong finish for third in a Rating 74 1400 metres on 2 April at Avondale, and rates a top three prospect back in grade for the $30,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.30.

Hastings:

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: true. No rain forecast.

3:22 p.m. R6 2 Summer Monsoon (7 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Johnathan Parkes; continued his outstanding form to powerfully win the Stewards' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) during Cup Week at Riccarton. He resumed with big run from last for third in an Open 1200 metres on 20 March at Tauranga, finished resolutely for a close third in a trial on 5 April at Cambridge (poly-track), and contests the $60,000 Power Turf Sprint (Listed, 1200m). Likely to get back in a strong field and carring 59.5kg, he is however a Group 3 winner who resumed with a good effort, and look for him finishing off strongly - one of a Te Akau duo in the stakes' event. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.80.

3:22 p.m. R6 6 Burgundy Rose (5 m Burgundy - Paraiba) - Joe Kamaruddin; sustained a big finish to win an Open 1200 metres on 26 February at Otaki, and posted a top run for second to race rival Can I Get An Amen (Hallowed Crown) in the Race A Horse with Te Akau No. 1 Stable Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m) on Oaks' Day (19 March) at Trentham. Racing in terrific form, she shapes to prove competitive again. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

4:03 p.m. R7 7 Leaderboard (7 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Lisa Allpress; finished fifth off a handy trip in a Rating 74 2000 metres on 26 February at Matamata, won by stable-mate Exaltation (Not A Single Doubt), and stepped up with a decisive victory in the New Zealand St Leger (Listed, 2600m) on Oaks' Day (19 Mar.) at Trentham. Carrying the minimum (54kg) in the $85,000 Power Farming Hawke's Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m), winning form is good form. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.