Te Akau North South Monday Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Monday 30 December at Taupo and Kurow.     

Taupo: 

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: true. Showers forecast Monday.

1:33 p.m. R3 5 I Am Nutz (3 g I Am Invincible – Pecans) – Craig Grylls; he went forward to race quite keenly near the pace, levelled at the 300m, and looked good in his action finishing second when trialing on 17 December at Pukekohe. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 1100 metres, and one of two in the race for the stable, his dam Pecans (Skilled) was a dual Group Three winner among six victories from 1200m – 1600m in Australia. He was third when trialing here in November and shapes to race well first-up. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.15.

1:33 p.m. R3 8 Brazen Affair (3 f Brazen Beau – Southern Romance) – Wiremu Pinn; she was unable to handle the downgraded Heavy8 footing in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 5 December at New Plymouth, and also contests the $18,500 Maiden 1100 metres. She was very good through the trials’ stage, is ideally drawn (2) with blinkers on, and she receives the opportunity to show improvement with the better footing she might strike today. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.80. 

2:08 p.m. R4 8 Say You Love Me (3 f Savabeel – Lady Tatia) – Wiremu Pinn; she began well from an outside gate, was four-wide turning for home, went strongly to lead at the 250m and sustained a big effort to win well at the trials on 17 December at Pukekohe. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, she is a sister to former stable-mate Belle Of The Ball, the stakes’ placed winner of four races from 1400m – 1600m. She looks to have inherent family ability, but requires luck from her wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.50.

3:16 p.m. R6 8 Akenehi (4 m Fastnet Rock – Igraine) – Michael McNab; she kept finding line for a close sixth in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 8 December at Te Aroha, and contests the $18,500 Rating 65 2000 metres. Her dam Igraine (Galileo) impressed when winning from 1400m – 2100m, including the Group 2 Counties Cup. She should be suited to stepping up in distance and is ideally drawn (2) to present as a top three prospect. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95.

3:57 p.m. R7 1 Midnight Blue (8 g So You Think – Midnight Special) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a2); he produced va ery good effort for fourth in the Group 3 Great Northern Challenge Stakes over 1600m on 30 November at Ellerslie, but laboured after racing outside the leader in the Listed Matamata Cup on 20 December at Matamata. Contesting the $85,000 Harcourts Taupo Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m), his sevens wins have been from 1600m – 2400m, including the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m),. He enjoys weight relief to 58.5kg and finds the opportunity to bounce back. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05.

4:38 p.m. R8 3 Inca Belle (5 m Per Incanto – Belle Vie) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a2); she ran on without threatening for third in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 13 December at Tauranga, and contests the $18,500 Rating 65 1300 metres. Racing solidly, she has weight relief to 56kg, and looks top three prospect with a decent trip from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.50. 

Kurow: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. 7mls rain forecast Sunday and 8mls Monday.

2:25 p.m. R4 7 Porcia Catonis (3 f Super Seth – Dark Heather) – Diego Montes de Oca; she had a wide trip when debuting over 1200 metres in November at Timaru, and found plenty after working three-wide to finish a close second in the Maiden 1200 metres on 6 December at Riccarton (poly-track). Drawn barrier one in the $18,500 Maiden 2YO & Up 1200 metres, a similar performance would make her competitive. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.70.

3:02 p.m. R5 1 Rule Of Law (4 g Justify – Repeat) – Diego Montes da Oca; he was collared nearing the 200m after leading in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 23 November at Pukekohe, and finished well for third in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 6 December at Riccarton (poly-track). Contesting the $18,500 Rating 65 1800 metres, he appears capable of proving competitive with luck from wide draw (10). Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.55.