Te Akau North Island Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 15 horses entered on Saturday 16 March: Tauranga, and Trentham (NZ Oaks Day).

Tauranga:

Weather: showers, track: Good4, rail: out 1.5 metres. 6mls rain forecast Friday.

1:48 p.m. R3 4 Family Ties (4 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Jess Allen (a3); she ran the fastest last 600m (34.3) for fourth when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 24 February at Matamata, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. A stakes’ winner over 1800 metres, after winning her Maiden over 1300 metres, she enjoys weight relief to 55kg, and rates a top three chance if appreciative of this course at her first attempt. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

2:23 p.m. R4 3 Fashion Shoot (6 m Savabeel – High Fashion) – Kelly Myers; she was solid when resuming in the Westbury Classic (Gr. 2, 1400m) on 27 January at Ellerslie, and finished strongly for second in the Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m) on 24 February at Matamata. She impressively won the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) during Cup Week (15 Nov.) at Riccarton, and positions as a top three contender from barrier two in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.50.

3:00 p.m. R5 2 Valentine (3 g Turn Me Loose – Fastnet Rose) – Jess Allen (a3); he was held together when trialling here on 20 February, and resumes in the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres, one of two in the race for the stable. He ended his previous campaign finishing third in the corresponding event in November at Wanganui, possesses a good record, will appreciate weight relief to 54kg, and has shown to handle give in the ground. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.10.

3:00 p.m. R5 7 She Turns Heads (3 f Headwater – Convene) – Kelly Myers; she extended late to grab a trial win here on 20 February, and stayed strong for her well deserved, fresh-up victory in the Maiden 1200 metres on 29 February at Matamata for the ladies' partnership that race her. Drawn barrier one in the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres, she has placed previously on the course, and is the model of consistency. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.60.

3:39 p.m. R6 2 Insatiable (4 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Kelly Myers; he drew wide (11) and sustained a big run from last (fastest last 600m: 34.0) for third when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 10 February at Te Rapa, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. The first of a stable quart lining up in this event, he brings a good record to the task and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

3:39 p.m. R6 5 Malborough Bay (4 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin) – Jess Allen (a3); he ran home fine without pressure and was good through the line in a trial here on 20 February, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Stakes’ placed, he is a consistent performer who handles give in ground, is ideally drawn (4), has weight relief to 53kg, and also has displayed the ability to act well in a fresh state. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.00.

3:39 p.m. R6 10 Aequus (4 m Iffraaj – Equanimity) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she did well off a three wide trip for a close third in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 22 February at Wanganui, and also contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. She built nicely to a course/distance win here prior, and looks a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

3:39 p.m. R6 11 Polly Plum (5 m Xtravagant – Herstory) – Billy Jacobson; she worked forward outside lthe eader and finished third in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 16 February at New Plymouth. Likewise contesting the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, the blinkers are on, we know she can handle give in ground, and she is ideally drawn (3) to make an impact. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.50.

4:22 p.m. R7 7 Balance Of Power (3 g Almanzor – Respin) – Kelly Myers; he finished well for a close fourth when resuming in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 21 February at Pukekohe, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. Stakes’ placed as a two-year-old on rain-affected ground, he is capable of a top three finish but will need luck from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

4:57 p.m. R8 12 Zantabulous (4 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she was stifled for room in the straight when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 10 February at Te Rapa, and did very well from her wide gate (12) for fourth in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 24 February at Matamata. She is progressing well in her racing and has first four claims from handy gate (2) in the $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

Trentham:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: true. 7mls rain forecast Friday.

12:25 p.m. R1 1 Altari (2 c Savabeel – Bohemian Lily) – Opie Bosson; he flattened out at the 200m for a smart win when trialling on 20 February at Tauranga, and recorded an exciting debut victory in the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 29 February at Matamata. Beautifully bred, from an excellent family, he rates a top three chance in the $65,000 2YO 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.20.

2:52 p.m. R5 10 Petrucci (4 m I Am Invincible – Via Napoli) – Michael McNab; she ran the fastest last 600m (33.2) for second in the Concorde Handicap (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Karaka Millions night (27 Jan.) and ran an eye-catcher when fourth in the King’s Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Derby Day (2 March), both at Ellerslie. Ideally drawn (4) in the $90,000 Lincoln Farms Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m) look for her featuring strongly in the finish. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.

4:03 p.m. R7 1 Tokyo Tycoon (3 g Satono Aladdin – All About The Coin) – Opie Bosson; he has has been given time (28 days) since finishing seventh in the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m) at Ellerslie, and is back in trip for the $175,000 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1600m). The Champion Two-Year-Old last season, he has drawn barrier one and at this best, he is always competitive - the first of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

4:03 p.m. R7 11 My Lips Are Sealed (3 f Ace High – Tellmeaboutit) – Lisa Allpress; she circled widest with a notable effort for sixth in the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m) on 3 February at New Plymouth, has been freshened (42 days), and also contests the $175,000 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1600m). She dug deep for a nose margin defeat in the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) here in December, can handle give in the ground, and is perfectly ideally (3) to race well. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.80.

4:40 p.m. R8 5 Qali Al Farrasha (3 f Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Opie Bosson; she sprinted clear to win easing down by four lengths in the Maiden 3YO 1600 metres on 7 February at Matamata, and franked that performance with a very close second (neck) in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m) on Derby Day (2 March) at Ellerslie. A Te Akau home-bred, she rates a top three chance in the $500,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80.