Te Akau North South Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 10 horses entered on Saturday 28 December at Rotorua and Timaru.    

Rotorua: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:40 p.m. R1 4 Colonel Warden (3 g Russian Revolution – Moralto) – Matt Cartwright; the racked up wide and closed solidly for sixth when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1230 metres here on 4 December. Contesting the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1215 metres, the finished hird on debut in the  Listed Champagne Stakes over 1200m last season, has blinkers on and is ideally drawn (4) to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.60 & $1.40.  

1:48 p.m. R3 12 Shockabella (3 f Shocking – My Isabella) – Craig Grylls; she trailed the leaders in third but was denied racing room over the concluding stages when finishing sixth on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 13 December at Tauranga. Contesting the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres, she appears suited stepping up in distance and has first four claims. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.80.

2:22 p.m. R4 11 Crown Princess (3 f Embellish – Princess Davone) – Wiremu Pinn; she fought strongly for third after sharing competitive pace when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 12 December at Ellerslie, and contests the $18,500 Maiden 1560 metres. Her Te Akau trained dam won here among her four career wins from 1200m – 2100m, and was multiple times stakes’ placed. She is well drawn (5) to feature in the top three again. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.55.

3:00 p.m. R5 4 Plenty O’ Style (4 g Embellish – Opulent) – Matt Cartwright; he raced outside the leader and was easy late when trialing on 17 December at Pukekohe. Resuming in the $18,500 Rating 65 1560 metres, he won a Maiden 1600 metres by three and a half lengths last season, and is capable of bold showing fresh-up from barrier five. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.60.

4:10 p.m. R7 4 Puzzle Master (3 g Rubick – One Mansini) – Wiremu Pinn; he improved on his debut second to win the Maiden 3YO 1300 metres on 3 October at Cambridge (poly-track), and closed well well over the concluding stages for fourth in trial on 17 December at Pukekohe. Resuming in the $18,500 Rating 65 1215 metres, he brings a solid trials’ and race record to the contest, and presents as a top three prospect from barrier one. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.75. 

Timaru: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

2:10 p.m. R2 11 Porcia Catonis (3 f Super Seth – Dark Heather) – Diego Montes de Oca; she had wide trip when debuting here on 1200 metres in November, and found plenty after no luck when again working three-wide to finish a close second in the Maiden 1200 metres on 6 December at Riccarton (poly-track). A similar type of performance would make her competitive in the $18,000 Maiden 2YO & Up 1200 metres, but she needs things to go her way from the outside gate (14). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25.

3:27 p.m. R4 15 Renaissance Man (3 g Almanzor – Kindred) – Diego Montes de Oca; he ran home solidly for sixth when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 21 November, and found the line well for sixth in the Maiden 1400 metres on 18 December at Ashburton. Contesting the $18,500 Maiden 1600 metres, he looks suited to stepping up in distance and is capable of proving competitive but is another that needs a ton of luck from his wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.35.

4:37 p.m. R6 4 Knowledge Is Power (3 g Written Tycoon – Hectopascal) – Diego Montes de Oca; he recorded an all-the-way win by two lengths in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 21 November, and was only claimed near the line after leading in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 6 December at Riccarton (poly-track). Contesting the $18,500 Rating 65 1200 metres, he is a course/distance winner, and if he can secure a decent trip from barrier nine, he can figure in the finish. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25.

5:12 p.m. R7 5 Insatiable (5 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Diego Montes de Oca; he resumed with two top efforts for second during Cup Week at Riccarton, and did not have all favours before surging through for a close fifth in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 7 December at Trentham. Contesting the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres, he was a course/distance winner last season, and warrants favouritism. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.50.

6:28 p.m. R9 10 Can’t Kach Me (5 m Tavistock – Kachina) – Diego Montes de Oca; she was unable to quicken following an economical trip in the Rating 75 2100 metres on 6 December at Riccarton (poly-track), and contests the $18,500 Rating 75 2100 metres, in a race sponsored by the stable. She resumed with a stylish fresh-up victory over 1600 metres, and won her Maiden over 2200 metres, before finishing second over same distance here last season. While she meets a solid field , she is presented with the opportunity to bounce back. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05.