Te Akau North Island Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 17 horses entered on Saturday 1 May at Te Rapa and Hastings -

Te Rapa:

Weather: overcast, track: Dead6, rail: out 5 metres. No rain forecast.

1.19 p.m. R3 7 Irish Red (2 f Burgundy - Niamh Elizabeth) - Danielle Johnson; was unlucky not to win when quickening into second on debut in 2YO 1200 metres on 8 April at Wanganui. She was solid through the trials stage and rates a top three chance despite drawing wide (17) in the $22,500 2YO 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.75.

1.19 p.m. R3 8 Polly Plum (2 f Xtravagant - Herstory) - Michael McNab; ran home well for fourth on debut in January at Matamata, and cruised up to win without urging when trialling on 20 April at Cambridge. She can put herself in the race and rates a top three chance in the $22,500 2YO 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.60.

1.53 p.m. R4 1 Top Brass (5 g Epaulette - Highlight) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); displayed his customary resolve off a wide trip to finish third when resuming here a fortnight ago in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres and contests the corresponding event. Weight relief to 58kg aids his cause but he requires luck from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.

1.53 p.m. R4 6 Supreme Khan (3 g Mongolian Khan - Angelica Hall) - Opie Bosson; registered two wins and two seconds from five starts during his first campaign, and unpressured finishing second when trialling on 20 April at Cambridge. He has the credentials to rate a top three chance from barrier one in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.85.

1.53 p.m. R4 10 Vincere (4 m Pins - Lasting Luck) - Danielle Johnson; registered two wins and two seconds from four starts in her last campaign, ending with a win in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 9 January at Awapuni. She closed strongly without urging for third when trialling on 20 April at Cambridge, and shapes to race well fresh-up from barrier three in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

2.27 p.m. R5 12 Pazienza (3 f Written Tycoon - Gypsy Chimes) - Danielle Johnson; impressed winning on debut as a two-year-old and resumed with a strong win in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 17 April at Hastings. Up in class for the $70,000 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m), she has the ability to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $31.00 & $6.50.

3.01 p.m. R6 17 Summer Monsoon (6 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); recorded a notable effort for third in the Rating 74 1350 metres on 8 April at Wanganui, and steps up in the $32,500 Open 1400 metres.  He is ideally drawn (2) with weight relief to 51kg, but he meets a tough field. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20.

3.36 p.m. R7 1 Savy Yong Blonk (5 m Savabeel - Ampin) - Danielle Johnson; freshened after winning the City of Auckland Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m) on 1 January, she resumed with a top run for second in the Royal Descent Stakes (1600m) on Auckland Cup Day (13 March) and continued her tremendous form with an impressive victory in the Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m) on 9 April at Awapuni. She warrants favouritism in the $100,000 Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m). Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.30.

4.12 p.m. R8 1 Leaderboard (6 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); capped good form winning the Rating 74 2000 metres on 16 April at Matamata, equalling the all-time record (143) for trainer Jamie Richards in the process. Remaining in the same grade for the $27,500 Rating 74 2400 metres, he has won at the trip and receives weight relief to 58.5kg. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

Hastings:

Weather: fine, track: Dead4, rail: out 5 metres. No rain forecast.

11.50 p.m. R1 6 Felicienne (3 f Savabeel - Flavigny) - Johnathan Parkes; ran the fastest last 600m (34.9) for second on Slow8 in the Maiden 1200 metres when resuming on 31 March at Matamata, but found the Slow9 too testing after getting back to last there in the Pearl Series Maiden 1400 metres on 16 April. On improved footing, she rates a top three chance from barrier one in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.85.

12.25 p.m. R2 3 Medal (2 c Savabeel - Gold Rocks) - Johnathan Parkes; got back before finding the line strongly on debut in the 2YO 1100 metres on 17 April at Te Rapa, and contests the $22,500 2YO 1200 metres. He hrawn out (10), but has the ability to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

1.00 p.m. R3 5 Illusion of Paris (3 f Pure Champion - Phantom of Paris) - Johnathan Parkes; raced outside the leader but found Slow9 too testing in the Maiden 1600 metres on 16 April at Matamata. Although drawn wide (11), she can show improvement on better footing in the $10,000 Maiden 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30.

1.35 p.m. R4 5 Radegast (4 g Savabeel - Marveen) - Johnathan Parkes; has finished fourth, second, fourth, at his last three starts, most recently in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 8 April at Wanganui. He is capable of another solid effort with luck from barrier 11 in the $22,500 Rating 65 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

2.08 p.m. R5 3 The Panther (3 g Iffraaj - La Panthere) - Johnathan Parkes; delivered off a perfect trip when debuting in the Maiden 1100 metres on 27 February at Otaki, and given time (45 days) since finishing second to subsequent winner Side By Side (Star Witness) in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 17 March at Matamata. He has top three claims from barrier two in the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.95.

2.43 p.m. R6 5 High Achiever (4 g Pins - Thee Achiever) - Johnathan Parkes; made it three from six when resuming with a stylish victory Rating 74 1200 metres on 26 March at New Plymouth, and kept fresh, with a quiet trial on 20 April at Cambridge, he contests the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres. Although up 2.5kg to carry 59kg, he remains in the same grade and rates a top three prospecy from barrier two. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

3.18 p.m. R7 10 Equinox (4 g Exceed and Excel - Our Ella Belle) - Leah Hemi; has been freshened since finishing second in the Rating 74 1300 metres on 27 February at Otaki, and contests the $32,500 Open 1400 metres.He meets a strong field, but barrier five certainly helps. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.20.

4.28 p.m. R9 10 Mazzuro (6 g Rip Van Winkle - Mini Pearl) - Johnathan Parkes; closed boldly from last when resuming in the $27,500 Rating 74 1600 metres on 17 April at Te Rapa, and contests the corresponding event.  He is destined for further and has drawn wide (11), so look for him finding the line again. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.