Te Akau North South Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on Saturday 1 March: Matamata and Wingatui. ?

Matamata:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 3 metres. Showers forecast.

1:19 p.m. R2 7 The Sky Above (4 m American Pharoah – Blue Blue Sky) – Samantha Spratt; she settled back and was unfortunately stymied for room in the straight in the Special Conditions Maiden 1400 metres here on 15 February. Contesting the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres, she is very consistent, having placed in six starts, and is capable of proving competitive if she can snare some luck from her wide draw (10). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10. 

3:00 p.m. R5 7 Egyptian Queen (4 m Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Ryan Elliot; one of a stable trio lining up in tis event, she has been given time (28 days) since finding the line solidly for second in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres on 1 February at New Plymouth, and contests the corresponding event. Runner-up in her only start on her home track, she has been twice stakes’ placed, and rates a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.90. 

3:00 p.m. R5 10 Bella Voce (4 m Fastnet Rock – Keep On Singing) – Michael McNab; she made it consecutive victories when storming home to win the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres in November at Wanganui, and contests the corresponding event. Spelled after winning, she was not under any pressure when doing her best work through the line in a trial on 11 February at Ellerslie - add to this the fact she has finished first and second over 1200 metres in her two course attempts, and has the  ability to act fresh, she’ll make her presence felt. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.25. 

3:00 p.m. R5 13 Not Straight Laced (4 m Turn Me Loose – Clos De Tart) – Masa Hashizume; she was unable to make ground from last in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 14 February at New Plymouth, and also contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. She delivered solid efforts for third and fourth prior to that, enjoys a good record on her home track, and has the ability to prove competitive in sthis olid field she faces. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.60. 

4:45 p.m. R8 1 Cognito (5 g So You Think – Lady Primrose) – Sima Mxothwa (a4); he received no chance from last in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) on 1 February at Ellerslie, and drops in class for the $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. While he has weight relief to 59.5kg, and possesses the undoubted ability to prove competitive, he never seems to draw well and once again, it will be challenge today from the wide gate (12). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00.

4:45 p.m. R8 2 Aotea Lad (8 g Savabeel – Corsage) – Amber Riddell (a3); also lining up in the event, one of the stable’s senior statesmen, he won a trial on 14 January at Matamata, and resumed with a notable fifth to stable-mate Talisker (Embellish) in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 1 February at New Plymouth. He drops back in grade for the $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres, and also with an apprentice aboard , he has the benefit of weight relief to 60kg. He’s a tough, hardy campaigner, and brings a good record on his home course to the contest. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00.

Wingatui:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:30 p.m. R2 6 Queen’s Evidence (2 f King’s Legacy – Enjay) – Joe Doyle; she began well from the outside gate, settled three-wide open near pace but travelled comfortably, and quickened with a good action in the straight to win a trial on 11 February at Ellerslie. Having travelled to a Central Districts’ meeting that was subsequently abandoned, she continued her travels south and debuts in the $40,000 2YO 1100 metres. She is one of the first crop of King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice), a dual Group One winning two-year-old in the Group 1 Inglis Sires Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m), and is out of the impressive 2100-metre winning mare Enjay (High Chaparral). She is ideally drawn (4) to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.00 & $1.15.

2:52 p.m. R6 6 Millefiori (6 m Iffraaj – Miss Bluebell) – Courtney Barnes; she found the line from rear  running a fast sectional (last 600 – 32s) in the Open Handicap 1100 metres on 5 February at Riccarton, and is one of two stable mares contesting the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres. A well-performed winner of seven races from 1100m – 1400m, she has been stakes’ placed, and is capable of proving competitive if things go right from her tricky draw (9) in this even line-up. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.20.

2:52 p.m. R6 9 Petrucci (5 m I Am Invincible – Via Napoli) – Samantha Wynne; she finished strongly off an economical trip for a close fifth in the Listed Timaru Stakes (1200m) on 25 January at Riccarton, and calso ontests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres. She has been an impressive winner in the north, is a dual Group Three runner-up, but is yet another runner that requires luck from a difficult alley (12). Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.00.

4:02 p.m. R8 9 Elegant Lady (5 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Rohan Mudhoo; cshe ame from last with huge finish for second to stable-mate Family Ties (below) in the Rating 75 2000 metres on 19 February at Riccarton, and they both contest the $170,000 Listed Positive Signs & Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m). She was runner-up in the corresponding event last year, drops in weight, is racing in great form without much luck, and can deliver a top three finish as she seeks to turn the tables on her stable mate. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.20.

4:02 p.m. R8 13 Family Ties (5 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Courtney Barnes; she raced clear to win the Rating 75 2000 metres on 19 February at Riccarton, and likewise contests the $170,000 Listed Positive Signs & Print Dunedin Gold Cup. In good form prior, she was a stakes’ winner of the Listed Oaks’ Prelude over 1800 metres, and strikes winning form at right time. She has the advantage of carrying the minimum weight (54kg), and definitely possesses the ability to prove competitive, just a shame about her nightmare carpark draw (19). Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80. 

4:37 p.m. R9 1 Perfect Scenario (7 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay) – Samantha Wynne; he finished fifth to race rival Harlech in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1400m) here on 8 February, and contests the $220,000 Group 3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m). The winner of 11, he has won this race the past two seasons, so seeks a ‘three-peat’, and the weight for age conditions suit him better.  While he may not be racing with quite the same zest at present, don’t forget he was a gallant third in the Group 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) in December, is a quality galloper and is ideally drawn (4) to pull of his title defence. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.