Te Akau North Island Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has 12 horses racing on Saturday 12 December: Te Rapa, and Awapuni.

Te Rapa:

Weather: overcast, track: Dead5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

1.05 p.m. R2 3 Sword of State (2 c Snitzel - In the
Vanguard) - Opie Bosson; sustained a strong finish for second when trialling on
1 December at Te Aroha, and debuts in the $30,000 2YO 1200 metres. From a very
fast family and a standout colt at the sales, he is ideally drawn (2) to race
well fresh-up. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.30.

1.40 p.m. R3 5 Brando (3 c Savabeel - Saoirse) - Opie
Bosson; freshened after winning his second start in good style over 1400 metres
on 28 October at Te Aroha, and finished strongly for third when trialling on
the same course (1 Dec.). Ideally drawn (4) in the $30,000 3YO 1200 metres, he
has the class to prove very competitive. Fixed odds: $2.30 & $1.25.

2.15 p.m. R4 3 Burgundy Rose (4 m Burgundy - Paraiba)
- Joe Kamaruddin (a4); made it four wins and three seconds from eight starts
when winning the Rating
74 1100 metres on 20 November at New Plymouth, having resumed with a
stylish fresh-up victory in the Rating 74 1000 metres on 25 October at
Trentham. Remaining in the same grade, again, for the 30,000 Rating 74 1200 metres, with weight relief to
55kgs, she should go well from barrier five if appreciative of the course at
her first attempt. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30.

2.15 p.m. R4 5 Lilikoi (4 m Charm Spirit - Barbadine) - Danielle Johnson;
was inconvenienced on rain-affected Slow8 footing when resuming in the $11,000
Rating 74 1200 metres on 8 November at Hastings, won by subsequent winning
stable-mate Top Brass (Epaulette), and scratched a couple of times, recently,
off wet ground. Last season, she proved too good winning the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m)
and finished third in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m). Destined to get
up in trip, she can prove competitive in the 30,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $5.00
& $2.00.

2.50 p.m. R5 4 Prise De Fer (5 g Savabeel - Foiled) -
Opie Bosson; was notable behind stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands) in both the
Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) at
Hastings, before being freshened, and had an exhibition gallop here on 25
November. He ran a strong third fresh-up to stable-mate Avantage (Fastnet Rock)
in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 5 September at Te Rapa, and capable of
a bold showing from barrier five in the $70,000 J Swap Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m).
Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.65.

2.50 p.m. R5 7 Burgundy Belle (5 m Burgundy - Spin ‘N Grin) - Danielle
Johnson; produced
strong efforts for second and third, respectively, before being held up after
trailing in the Legacy Lodge Sprint (Listed, 1200m) here on 7 November,
and ran a very good race for second in the Levin Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on 26
November at Otaki. Bringing a strong race record, she can prove competitive from
barrier four in the $70,000 J Swap Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m). Fixed odds: $12.00
& $3.70.

3.25 p.m. R6 11 Mai Tai (4 m Atlante - Tropical Punch) - Opie Bosson; continued good form
when finishing strongly for fourth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 21 November
at Awapuni, and contests the $30,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. She resumed with a
big effort for second here in September, and has the credentials to rate a top
three chance from barrier four. Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.55.

4.00 p.m. R7 2 Savy Yong Blonk (5 m Savabeel - Ampin) - Danielle Johnson; was held up before racing into second to stable-mate In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) in the Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m) on 21 November at Pukekohe, and contests the $100,000 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m). She has good form up in distance, including second in the City of Auckland Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m), and rates a top three chance despite drawing awkwardly (10). Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.40.

Awapuni:

Weather: fine, track: Slow8, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast.

12.50 p.m. R1 9 Get Hitched (4 m Lonhro - Wedding) - Craig Grylls; proved too good winning her Maiden over 1200 metres on Dead5 footing in March at Matamata, and returned home after a couple of runs in Sydney. She quickened appreciably on Slow9 to win at the trials on 1 December at Te Aroha, and shapes to race well despite drawing wide (13) in the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.40.

1.25 p.m. R2 10 Romantic Lady (4 m Power - Romantic
Time) - Craig Grylls; completed a hat-trick of wins in December at Matamata,
and second twice from three starts during her recent campaign. She resumed with
a last stride victory in the Rating 74 1200 metres here on 21 November, running
the fastest last 600m (33.5) on the day, and steps up in the $32,500 Open 1200
metres. A staunch and talented competitor, she rates a top three chance. Fixed
odds: $3.50 & $1.40.

2.00 p.m. R3 5 Aromatic (4 m Sacred Falls -
Vickezzchardonnay) - Craig Grylls; resumed with a tenacious victory in the
Rating 65 1400 metres on 10 October at Matamata, extending her record to three
wins and two seconds from five starts in the Rating 74 1600 metres here on 31
October. Without much room, she finished second in the Rating 74 1600 metres on
21 November at Pukekohe, and appears a strong top three chance up in distance
for the $32,500 Rating 74 2200 metres. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.50.

3.09 p.m. R5 3 Weaponry (5 g Declaration of War - Cat
Shmea) - Craig Grylls; resumed with a solid effort in the Open 1200 metres on
31 October at Pukekohe, and narrowly beaten by subsequent Group 1 winner Rock
On Wood (Redwood) in the Bulls Country Cup (Open, 1400m) here on 21 November. A
course winner over 1600 metres in January, he won the Southland Guineas
(Listed, 1600m) on slow footing and rates a top three chance in the $32,500
Open  1600 metres. Fixed odds: $3.10
& $1.30.

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