Te Akau North, South & Melbourne Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Wednesday 13 September: Cambridge, Riccarton, and Sandown (Melbourne). 

Cambridge:

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

2:17 p.m. R4 2 Spellcraft (4 g Savabeel – Bewitching) – Craig Grylls; he was caught wide in a trial on 29 August at Waipa, and resumes in the $18,500 Rating 65 1300 metres. He found plenty after leading to win over 1600 metres and followed with a strong finish for second over 1600 metres. Spelled in April, he is destined to step up in trip but is ideally drawn (3) and capable of a bold showing. 

2:52 p.m. R5 5 Kith ‘n’ Kin (4 m Almanzor – Kindred) – Vinnie Colgan; she closed strongly from well back for second in a trial here on 11 July, and resumes in the $18,500 Maiden 970 metres. Her dam Kindred (Pins) impressed winning over 1400 metres, and any emulation of the trial performance would see her with first four claims.

3:29 p.m. R6 5 Pokuru Gold (3 g Darci Brahma – Pokuru Nugget) – Sam Weatherley; he trailed mid inner and ran home strongly for second in his sole trial on 29 August at Waipa. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 970 metres, his dam Pokuru Nugget (Stravinsky) won over 1200 metres, he is from a good family, and is ideally drawn (1) to race well if appreciative of this surface at his first attempt. 

Riccarton:

Weather: cloudy, track: poly track, rail: true. 

2:33 p.m. R3 3 Our Milly Bee (4 m Merchant Navy – Rina Bettina) – Joe Kamaruddin; she closed late for third in the Maiden 1800 metres on 23 August at Taupo, and contests the $18,500 Maiden 1600 metres. She has placed in three from four on the polytrack at Cambridge, is racing well and deserving of a win, and rates a top three chance.

3:09 p.m. R4 5 Mazzucato (3 f Tivaci – Yellen) – Joe Kamaruddin; she ran on well among minors when trialling on 29 August at Waipa, and resumes in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. She finished second to subsequent stakes' placed Lowe Flying (Tivaci) on debut last season, has raced in good fields, has drawn the ace and is up to making an impact if she handles the surface at her first attempt.

4:54 p.m. R7 12 Elegant Lady (4 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Joe Kamaruddin; she got back beyond midfield and ran home behind the pack when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres here on 24 August. Stepping up in the $18,500 Rating 65 1400 metres, she dropped in class to win the Maiden 1900 metres in February at New Plymouth, and is ideally drawn (2) to produce an improved showing. 

Sandown:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 13 metres. No rain forecast. 

6:30 p.m. (NZ time) R8 4 Lord Dynastic (4 g Almanzor – Meir) – Michael Dee; he spelled following the New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), has trialled three times in preparation, and resumes in the $50,000 Benchmark 84 1300 metres. Known in New Zealand as Dynastic, the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner, he resumed last season winning the El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m) (as Tokyo Tycoon has just done), is destined for further but this is an ideal opportunity to race well fresh-up with any luck from barrier 11. Sportsbet: $14