Te Akau North Island Thursday Preview

Te Akau Racing has two horses entered on Thursday 25 July: Rotorua, and Awapuni. 

Rotorua:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy10, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast. 

3:21 p.m. R7 4 Devoted (6 g Contributer – Mapmaker) – Tayla Melvin (a4); he was pulled up on the journey in the Maiden Steeplechase (4000m) on 29 June at Hastings, after placing in two previous steeplechase events, and reverts to flat racing in the $35,000 Rating 75 1950 metres. He provided Te Akau apprentice Melvin with her first win when coming from last on Heavy10 footing in the Rating 65 2100 metres on 25 May at Pukekohe, has weight relief to 52.5kg and, while he strikes a good field, he has the opportunity to right the ship. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.50.

Awapuni:

Weather: fine, track: poly-track, rail: true. 

3.42 p.m. R4 6 Luxuriant (6 m Iffraaj – Opulent) – Lisa Allpress; she rose in grade to win the Rating 75 1200 metres with plenty of gusto here on 5 July, clocking the fastest last 600m (33.1) on the day, and contests the $17,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Up 3kg to 57.5kg, she is however racing in career best form with three wins from her last four starts. She possesses an exemplary course record and rates a top three chance from barrier four. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.60.