Te Akau North Island Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has nine horses entered on Saturday 20 March: Tauranga and Trentham.

Tauranga:

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: out 6 metres. No rain forecast.

12.53 p.m. R1 3 Bonita Aurelia (3 f Sweynesse - Cassie May) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); circled widest turn and closed solidly for fourth when trialling on 2 March at Rotorua, and first start for stable in the $25,000 3YO 1200 metres. At two, she won the Woburn Farm 2YO Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m) and finished third in the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m). She acts well fresh and she has weight relief to 52.5kg. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.40.

1.28 p.m. R2 12 Tauparae (3 f Savabeel - Matakana) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); won handsomely when trialling in January at Matamata, and held together without room on 2 March at Rotorua. Debuting from barrier three in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres, she hails from a very good family and is aided by weight relief to 53kg. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.15.

2.03 p.m. R3 10 Rhapsody in Blue (4 m Medaglia d'Oro - Kablues) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); led and sustained a strong gallop for second when trialling on 2 March at Rotorua. In October, she ended her previous campaign finishing third in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres at Awapuni, and resumes in the corresponding event. With weight relief to 52kg, she does however need luck from the outside barrier (12). Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.10.

3.20 p.m. R5 7 Seajetz (3 g Iffraaj - Bellazeel) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); has been given time (31 days) after quickening appreciably to win the Rating 65 1600 metres on 17 February at Te Aroha, and steps up in the $27,500 Rating 74 1600 metres. Winner of two from four, he is ideally drawn (2) and enjoys weight relief to 54kg. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.45.

Trentham:

Weather: fine, track: Dead4, rail: true. No rain forecast.

3.35 p.m. R6 1 Need I Say More (3 g No Nay Never - Bo Bardi) - Johnathan Parkes; produced a stunning victory in the Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) when resuming on Karaka Million night (23 Jan.), and made it six from eight with a well timed finish in the Mufhasa Fasttrack Stakes (Listed, 1300m) on Derby Day (7 March) at Ellerslie. Drawn the outside (11) makes it tricky in the $100,000 Fusion Electrical Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m), but he won the Sarten Memorial (Gr. 2, 1400m) at the trip and is racing in impeccable form. Fixed odds: $2.90 & $1.30.

3.35 p.m. R6 2 Brando (3 c Savabeel - Saoirse) - Opie Bosson; sprinted clear to win untouched in the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, and just missed with a big finish for second to race rival Bonham (Per Incanto) in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) here on 16 January. He was caught wide when contesting the C S Hayes Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 13 February at Flemington, and is here ideally drawn (4) to threaten in the $100,000 Fusion Electrical Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.30.

3.35 p.m. R6 8 Cornflower Blue (3 f Savabeel - Tiffany Yellow) - Danielle Johnson; won the Barneswood Farm Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) and spelled after finishing third to stable-mate Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). She found the line strongly for third to stable-mate Need I Say More (above) when resuming in the Mufhasa Fasttrack Stakes (Listed, 1300m) at Ellerslie, and she has the class to prove competitive with blinkers on in the $100,000 Fusion Electrical Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.40.

4.15 p.m. R7 5 Romantic Lady (4 m Power - Romantic Time) - Samantha Collett; continued her excellent form running third in the Open 1400 metres on 3 March at Hastings, and steps up in the $50,000 Hardy Trade Supply Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m). She carries minimum weight (53kg) and rates a top four chance. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.00.

4.55 p.m. R8 1 Amarelinha (3 f Savabeel - Hopscotch) - Opie Bosson; was exceptional winning the David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 13 February at Te Rapa, and got the job done despite unsuitable slow footing in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m) on Derby Day (7 March) at Ellerslie. Big, strong, talented, she is hardest to beat in the $400,000 Albasti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) despite her awkward gate. Fixed odds: $1.60 & $1.15.