Te Akau North Island Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Saturday 28 January: Trentham, and Riccarton.

Trentham:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. 6mls rain forecast Friday, 14mls Saturday.

1:00 p.m. R2 1 Fellini (3 g Belardo - Silke Top) - Opie Bosson; he was held together in second when trialling on 17 January at Tauranga, and resumes in the $60,000 3YO 1200 metres. He sprinted hard to win fresh-up over 1100 metres on 24 August at Taupo. Placed in Karaka Million 2YO last season, he has been very genuine winning three from seven, comes in as the highest rated, and rates a top three chance - one of a tangerine duo contesting the event. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.35.

1:00 p.m. R2 9 Caravella (3 f Caravaggio - Highland Lights) - Craig Zackey; she enjoyed an economical trip when getting home nicely for fourth in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and contests the $60,000 3YO 1200 metres. She won her Maiden on good ground over 1200 metres, tries hard and is ideally drawn (3). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

5:09 p.m. R9 8 Leaderboard (8 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Joe Doyle; he battled off a wide trip in the Marton Cup (Listed, 2200m) here three weeks ago, however went well in an exhibition gallop on Wednesday at Matamata, and contests the $300,000 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m). Third and fifth, respectively, in the New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m), he won the New Zealand St Leger (Listed, 2600m) here last season, but is required to lift to make an impact. Fixed odds: $41.00 & $7.00.

Riccarton:

Weather: fine, track: Good3, rail: true. 14mls rain forecast Friday and no rain Saturday.

2:28 p.m. R4 5 Miss Dunsford (3 f Dissident - She Chose Me) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she was unable to quicken on Heavy10 going when making her NZ debut in the Rating 65 1050 metres on 11 January at Matamata, and contests the $30,000 Rating 65 1100 metres. She won her Maiden over 1200 metres on good ground at Pakenham, Victoria, but requires luck from her wide draw (15). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

4:48 p.m. R8 3 Perfect Scenario (5 g Iffraaj - Rosetti Bay) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he charged home to win the Coupland's Bakeries Mile Prelude (Open, 1400m), before running a notable fifth in the Coupland's Bakeries Mile (Gr. 3, 1600m) during Cup Week at Riccarton. Freshened, he was held together finishing close up in a trial on 17 January at Tauranga, is having great season, and presents as a top three prospect fresh-up in the $65,000 Speight's Timaru Stakes (Listed, 1400m). Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.70.