Te Akau North Island Saturday Preview

Date: 18 Nov 2022

Te Akau North Island Saturday Preview

 

Te Akau Racing has 14 horses entered on Saturday 19 November: Pukekohe, and Awapuni. 

 

Pukekohe:

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy8, rail: out 2.5 metres. 6mls rain forecast Friday and Saturday.

11:55 a.m. R1 19 Ready to Drink (4 g Burgundy - Corsage) - Craig Zackey; he produced a brave effort for fourth after being posted three wide when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres on 19 October at Tauranga, and contests the $20,000 Maiden 1200 metres. The visor blinkers are on, however he requires plenty of luck from his wide draw (14) but should race well if appreciative of track conditions. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

1:05 p.m. R3 1 Balance Of Power (2 c Almanzor - Respin) - Craig Zackey; he chased a torrid pace and rounded off solidly for third when debuting in the 2YO 1000 metres on 22 October at Te Rapa, and contests the $90,000 Barfoot & Thompson Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m). He finished second in a trial on Heavy10 going, has drawn barrier one, and should race well if he handles the conditions - one of two Te Akau colts contesting the event. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.00.

1:05 p.m. R3 2 Cyclonic King (2 c Exceed and Excel - Lady Krovanh) - Craig Grylls; he impressed winning a trial before a similar run to Balance Of Power (above) when debuting in the 2YO 1000 metres on 22 October at Te Rapa, and he too contests the $90,000 Barfoot & Thompson Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m). He rates a top three chance if he cops the track. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.10.

3:19 p.m. R7 5 Sophisticardo (4 g Burgundy - Glamorous Girl) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he ran the fastest last 600m (33.6) on day for second in the Rating 75 1100 metres on 12 October at Avondale, and was the same again (33.2) when flying home to win the Rating 75 1200 metres on 29 October at Awapuni. He has won on rain-affected footing and brings the right form to the table to prove competitive in the $65,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

4:29 p.m. R9 9 The Perfect Pink (4 m Savabeel - The Solitaire) - Craig Zackey; she got back to settle last before closing strongly in the Open 1400 metres on 22 October at Te Rapa, and contests the $150,000 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m). She won the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on soft ground, but may be required to handle more testing footing. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70.

5:09 p.m. R10 6 Self Obsession (4 m Shocking - Mawaakib) - Vinnie Colgan; she was strong through the line when resuming in the Open 1400 metres on 22 October at Te Rapa, and was back to her gallant best for second in the Karaka Classic (Listed, 1500m) here on 1 November. She ended her previous campaign finishing second to stable-mate Belle En Rouge (below) in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) - tying with her for New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year honours. She is capable of a top three finish in the $130,000 Pukekohe Traders Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m) - one of three Te Akau mares stepping out in this feature. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.50.

5:09 p.m. R10 10 Belle En Rouge (4 m Burgundy - Cavendish Belle) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); she came from last in the same race as Self Obsession (above) here on 1 November and also contests the $130,000 Pukekohe Traders Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m). She scored a brilliant New Zealand Oaks' (Gr. 1, 2400m) victory in March at Trentham, securing joint New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year honours, and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

5:09 p.m. R10 12 Aromatic (6 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay) - Craig Grylls; she followed seconds in both the Metric Mile (Gr. 3, 1550m) and the Staphanos Classic (Listed, 1950m) by clocking a quick last 600m (33.5) from last in the Feilding Gold Cup (Listed, 2100m) on 29 October at Awapuni. While she is likely to handle heavy ground better than most, she requires luck from her wide gate (15) in the $130,000 Pukekohe Traders Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m). Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.50.

5:51 p.m. R11 17 She's Outrageous (4 m Reliable Man - She's Insatiable) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she flew through for victory at her third start on 29 October at Matamata, in the Maiden 1600 metres, and steps up in the $65,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. She meets a much tougher field, but should prove competitive with an emulation of her previous performance. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75.

 

Awapuni:

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: out 3 metres (outside bend). 10mls rain forecast Friday and 18mls Saturday.

12:45 p.m. R2 1 Lord Cosmos (3 g Pierro - Cosmic Powers) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); he has been freshened since failing to handle the Heavy10 track in the El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m), and trialled okay on 3 November at Matamata. Resuming in the $30,000 3YO 1300 metres, he has the advantage of weight relief to 55kg, but if the forecast rain comes to fruition, it would not work in his favour in this event with two Te Akau starters. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.80.

12:45 p.m. R2 5 Caravella (3 f Caravaggio - Highland Lights) - Lisa Allpress; she appreciated better footing (Good4) when winning the Maiden 1200 metres on 22 October at Te Rapa, and steps up in the $30,000 3YO 1300 metres. She is ideally drawn (2), but will be required to cop the ground in order to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.

1:20 p.m. R3 1 Lightning Field (6 g Deep Field - Claudine) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); he was freshened after racing in August, was doing his best work through the line in a trial on 3 November at Matamata, and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. The apprentice claim drops him to  57kg, all of his four wins have come on soft ground, and he should be getting home strongly. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.70.

2:30 p.m. R5 10 Polly Plum (4 m Xtravagant - Herstory) - Lisa Allpress; she fought solidly for seventh in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 1 November at Pukekohe, and contests the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She is progressing well but unfortunately has drawn wide (16) and much also depends on her handling the conditions - one of two 4YO mares lining up fo the stable in this event. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00.

2:30 p.m. R5 11 Sicilian Dream (4 m Dream Ahead - Taormina) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); she debuted with a terrific victory over 1215 metres in March at Rotorua, and didn't enjoy the greatest of trips when resuming in the Pearl Series Rating 65 1200 metres on 29 October at Matamata. She receives her opportunity to improve in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, has weight relief to 54kg, but is yet another that will need every ounce of luck from the carpark alley (15). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

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