Te Akau North South Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 10 horses entered on Friday 5 December: Rotorua and Riccarton, in New Zealand. ??

Rotorua:  

Weather: fine, track: Heavy9, rail: out 3 metres winning post to 1300m, remainder out 4 metres. No rain forecast.  

2:05 p.m. R1 3 Bellish Boy (3 g Embellish – Stylish Achiever) – Rory Hutchings; he was caught wide in the early rush, settled mid line of three at the 600m, and found a very good kick to win comfortably at the Avondale trials on 14 November. Debuting in the $25,000 Maiden 3YO 1230 metres, he is by by Te Akau bought and trained Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas winning sire Embellish (Savabeel) - his dam Stylish Achiever (Fastnet Rock) was a course/distance winner, and he appears capable of a bold showing first-up but hasn’t received all favours with the tough gate (11). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.45.

5:47 p.m. R7 1 War Of Succession (5 g Tavistock – Ziffel) – Haylie Hassman (a3); he remained midfield throughout in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 8 November at Pukekohe, and contests the $25,000 Rating 75 1950 metres. He won the Rating 75 1600 metres on 18 October at Ellerslie in dominant fashion, and now has recorded four wins to 2100 metres. He raced clear for a course/distance Maiden win in December last year on soft footing, has the benefit of weight relief to 57.5kg, and this is a good opportunity for him to to bounce back as top three chance if - you guessed it - he can navigate his wide alley (13) - luck for some!  Fixed odds: $4.60 & $2.00. ?

Riccarton:  

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

3:03 p.m. R1 6 Shockabella (4 m Shocking – My Isabella) – Courtney Barnes; she fought solidly on footing downgraded to Heavy9 in the Rating 65 2000 metres here on 15 November, and contests the $40,000 Rating 60 2100 metres. She won her Maiden over 1800 metres, has drawn the ace, and has the ability to prove competitive if she handles the poly track surface at her first attempt. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.65.

3:35 p.m. R2 2 Elegant Lady (6 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Bruno Queiroz; she was squeezed when pushed wide turning for home in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy over 2600m)here on 8 November, and contests the $40,000 Rating 80 Benchmark 2100 metres. She has already been a course/distance winner on the poly-track, has notched up four career wins to 2200 metres, has been twice stakes-placed to 2400m, and can give this field a shake from the good barrier (4). Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.25.

4:10 p.m. R3 12 Hello Bess (3 f Hello Youmzain – Niamh Elizabeth) – Bruno Queiroz; she travelled handily between runners and ran home well in the straight for fifth when trialling on 18 November at Waipa. Debuting in the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres, she is the homebred half-sister to stakes ‘placed winners Irish Red and Cu Chulainn and three-time winner Sorcha, all by Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice). This family has a good record on poly-tracks and she is ideally drawn (2) to race well first-up. Fixed odds: $2.90 & $1.30.

4:43 p.m. R4 5 High Roller (4 g Ace High – Miss Thorn) – Bruno Queiroz; he remained back in the Maiden 1400 metres on 1 November at Tauranga, has been patiently handled and given time (34 days), and contests the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres. He has shown ability and receives opportunity to improve if appreciative of the poly-track at first attempt. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.50.

5:18 p.m. R5 11 Queen Of Naples (4 m Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time) – Bruno Queiroz; she received a really bad check in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 31 October at Ashburton, is another who has been given time (35 days), and contests the $40,000 Rating 80 Benchmark 1400 metres. She recorded consecutive wins to 1600 metres here on the poly-track in June/July also with Queiroz aboard, and while she meets strong field she has undoubted ability and can bounce back to winning form. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.90.

5:50 p.m. R6 8 Corps D’Elite (4 m So You Think – Illuminati) – Bruno Queiroz; she held her position when finishing fifth in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 19 November at Timaru, and contests the $40,000 Rating 60 1400 metres. She recorded a compelling Maiden victory over 1200 metres here on the poly-track, and from barrier six, a return to top three form is on the cards. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.         

6:24 p.m. R7 2 Cognoscenti (4 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Bruno Queiroz; he travelled well but was unable to quicken in the Rating 65 1600 metres here on 8 November, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. He brings a solid race record to this contest, and will be looking for improvement if he can handle the poly-track at his first attempt. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70. 

6:56 p.m. R8 2 Rule Of Law (5 g Justify – Repeat) – Bruno Queiroz; he travelled third on a moderate tempo and held his place in the straight over a sprint distance when trialling on 25 November at Ashburton. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, he is a horse that showed good form before his freshen-up: first, two seconds, and three thirds in seven starts to 1600 metres on poly-tracks. He has been a winner over 1300 metres and has the perfect draw (2) to race competitively. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15. 

Main picture - Queen of Naples winning at Riccarton (poly track)