Te Akau North South Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 15 horses entered on Saturday 27 September: Te Rapa and Riccarton. 

Te Rapa: 

Weather: fine, track: Heavy10, rail: out 2 metres. 4mls rain forecast Friday and 14mls Saturday.

12:02 p.m. R1 1 Family Ties (6 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Sage Duric (a4); she steadied back to last from her outside gate, was five lengths off the leaders at the 600m, angled widest at the 300m, and ran home strongly for third in a trial on 9 September at Ellerslie. She resumes in the $65,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, and enjoys weight relief to 55.5kg with our visiting Australian apprentice aboard.  She is a stakes’ winner over 1800 metres, a genuine performer who has drawn the ace and expect her to be finding the line strongly if she appreciates the heavy track conditions which will be a question mark for a number of runners on the day. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.10.

12:36 p.m. R2 1 I’m A Dirty Rascal (8 g Galileo – Remember When, by Danehill Dancer) – Sam McNab (a3); he found the line nicely from last when resuming in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 6 September at Ellerslie, over a distance short of his best. Contesting the $65,000 Rating 75 2100 metres, he is a staying type who has been a winner at 2500 metres. The apprentice engagement gives him weight relief to 58kg, but he’s another whose performance really depends on how he deals with the track conditions. Fixed odds: $31.00 & $7.50.

1:10 p.m. R3 1 Pokuru Gold (5 g Darci Brahma – Pokuru Nugget) – Sage Duric (a4); he remained under a hold when finishing well for third in a trial on 9 September at Ellerslie. Resuming in the $65,000 Rating 75 1100 metres, he has compiled a top record of five wins from eight starts (four on soft and heavy). He too enjoys weight relief (60.5kg), has a terrific course and distance record, and looks a definite top three chance - the first of a trio contesting the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70.

1:10 p.m. R3 2 Malmaison (5 g Darci Brahma – Altai Rose) – Opie Bosson; the second starter for the team in this event ran home well in a trial on 9 September at Ellerslie. He's been off the scene for about 10 months, he resumes in the Rating 75 1100 metres, and won four times to 1200 metres in his last campaign, including on Heavy10 going. However it’s still a question whether he will handle these particular conditions in this, his first race at Te Rapa. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80.

1:10 p.m. R3 6 I Am Nutz (4 g I Am Invincible – Pecans) – Craig Grylls; the third of the stable trio in the Rating 75 1100m, he won two of his last three starts to 1350 metres before spelling, and let down with a strong finish for third in a trial on 9 September at Ellerslie. Resuming here, he did well for a course/distance third at his only prior start on the track.  Alongside his two stablemates, he is capable of a bold run fresh-up if appreciative of conditions. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80.

4:04 p.m. R8 14 Qali Al Farrasha (5 m Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Bruno Queiroz; she worked to get handy and sustained a bold run for a close eighth when resuming in the Group 1 Proisir Plate on 6 September at Ellerslie. Contesting the $400,000 Group 1 Howden Insurance Mile, she finished second in both the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) last season. She is course/distance placed at her only attempt at Te Rapa, and is a very genuine performer, but much depends on how she will deal with the track conditions. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.50. 

Riccarton: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: out 8 metres. No rain forecast.

12:20 p.m. R2 12 Origin Of Love (3 f Snitzel – Re Edit) – Jasmine Fawcett; she let down well for second in a trial on 12 August at Avondale, and finished a close third after leading on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 7 September at Timaru. Contesting the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres, her dam won three times to 1600 metres and was Group 2 placed in Australia, and she rates a top three chance from barrier six. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.60.

12:52 p.m. R3 4 War Of Silence (3 c Snitzel – Silent Sedition) – Jasmine Fawcett; he lifted when challenged to secure a debut victory in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 13 September, and contests the $40,000 Rangiora New World Guineas Trial (3YO, 1400 metres). He is by four-time Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), out of the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) winner Silent Sedition (the William Reid of course won twice by Imperatriz), who recorded four Group Three wins from 1400m – 1800m - he has top three credentials. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.50.

1:28 p.m. R4 3 Out Of The Blue (2 g Tivaci – Cornflower Blue, by Savabeel) – Jasmine Fawcett; having his first start for the ‘Tangerine Army’, he displayed a good action when closing in the straight for third in a trial on 26 August at Waipa. On debut in the $25,000 Maiden 2YO 800 metres, he is out of the Te Akau trained Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes winner Cornflower Blue (Savabeel), who finished third in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas, Group 2 Wellington Guineas, and Listed Mufhasa Stakes. Drawn the ace, he will learn a lot from this experience but expect him to race with confidence. Fixed odds: $1.70 & $1.10.

2:03 p.m. R5 10 Court Of Appeal (5 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel) – Jasmine Fawcett; she resumed with  a dominant victory in the Rating 75 1600 metres here (poly-track) on 11 September, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1580 metres. She won easily second-up over 1800 metres last season, and while her pedigree and performance indicates she destined for further, she does have good ability and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.20.

3:13 p.m. R7 1 Perfect Scenario (8 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay) – Jack Taplin (a3); he finished sixth but had more to offer when resuming in the Open Handicap 1000 metres on 30 August and it was a similar scenario when he was fifth in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 13 September, both here at Riccarton. Contesting the $50,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres, the stable’s ‘senior southern statesman’ is the winner of 11 races including four here, and with four wins 1400 metres and weight relief to 59.5kg, he rightly claims top three prospects - one of two top chances in the event for the team.  Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.05.

3:13 p.m. R7 7 Stonybreck (6 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Jasmine Fawcett; the second stable representative in this, he came from back in the field for third (fastest last 600m: 34.5) to stable-mate Cognito in the Open Handicap 1580 metres here on 30 August, was given time (28 days), and also contests the Open Handicap 1400 metres. He’s compiled a solid distance record, is racing well, and he too is more than capable of a top three finish if he secures luck in the running from a tricky gate (8). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.05.

3:48 p.m. R8 8 Elegant Lady (6 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Jasmine Fawcett; she ran home solidly for third in a trial on 19 August at Ashburton, but never let down on Good3 going when resuming in the Open Handicap 1600 metres on 7 September at Timaru. Contesting the $50,000 Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m), she has notched up four wins to 2200 metres, has been twice stakes’ placed to 2400m, sports a good course/distance record, and at her best, can be right in the thick of the finish. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95.

4:23 p.m. R9 1 Insatiable (6 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Jack Taplin (a3); he steadied back but was good through the line in a trial on 9 September at Ellerslie, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. A horse that loves being in the south, he has returned to his happy hunting ground where he has developed a good course/distance record. He has also won and raced well when in a fresh state, has weight relief to 58.5kg, and if he can secure a decent trip from barrier 10, he can be right in this - one of two lining up in the tangerine colours. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.95.

4:23 p.m. R9 9 Legally Binding (4 g Exceedance – Legal Eagle) – Jasmine Fawcett; the second runner for the stable, he raced outside the leader before being claimed late (second) when resuming in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres here on 30 August. He won two of three starts to 1200 metres last season and brings right form to rate a top three chance with luck from his difficult alley (15). Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.95.

Main picture - Qali Al Farrasha winning at Ellerslie