Te Akau North South Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 16 horses entered on Saturday 15 November: Tauranga and Riccarton. ?

Tauranga: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: out 2.5 metres 1000m – 400m, remainder true. 3mls rain forecast Friday and showers Saturday.

1:35 p.m. R3 8 Avantaggia (3 f Wootton Bassett – Avantage) – Vinnie Colgan; she quickened through to lead at the 300m point and sustained a very strong gallop for a second start victory in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 22 October at Te Aroha. Contesting the $40,000 3YO 1400 metres, she meets stronger rivals but shown shown, if she can secure a decent trip from barrier eight, that she has the ability to be competitive. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.35.

2:10 p.m. R4 4 When Stars Align (4 g Zoustar – Shenandoah) – Corentin Berge; he travelled on the bridle in fourth and stretched out well to deliver a close fourth in a trial on 9 October at Waipa. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, he was a debut winner, has proven himself to perform well when fresh, and he certainly has first four claims. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.50.

2:43 p.m. R5 12 Charmrose (5 m Charm Spirit – Sovereign Rose) – Wiremu Pinn; she kept up a strong gallop to win, after leading when resuming in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 18 October at Ellerslie,. One of two stable runners contesting the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, she is a talented mare who has the right record to prove competitive stepping up in grade, and is more than capable of making an impact here from the handy gate (4). Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.90.

2:43 p.m. R5 18 I Am Nutz (4 g I Am Invincible – Pecans) – Jim Chung (a2); he fought well after being caught wide from his outside draw (12) in the Rating 70 1150 metres on 22 October at Te Aroha, and also contests the Rating 75 1200 metres. He won two of three starts to 1350 metres before spelling, enjoys weight relief to 54kg and is ideally drawn (3) - however he currently sits at number four on the ballot and is looking to gain a start. Fixed odds: $23.00 & $6.00.

3:52 p.m. R7 6 Wild Night (6 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Wiremu Pinn; he dwelt at the start and made ground from the rear when resuming in the Open Handicap 1300 metres here on 1 November. He’s had a super career, encompassing eight wins including at Group 2 & Listed level and he is also a previous course winner. The challenge is the barrier (11) for this genuine boy in the $150,000 Group 2 Gartshore Construction Tauranga Stakes (1600m). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30.

4:27 p.m. R8 1 Top Shelf (4 m Savabeel – Saoirse) – Wiremu Pinn; she resumed with a good effort for second in the Rating 65 1400 metres here on 1 October, and unwound strongly for third in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 25 October at Ellerslie. Contesting the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, she is a previous course/distance winner and is stakes' placed - while she carries the top weight (61kg), she can be in the finish but has to overcome the wide gate (10). Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.05.

Riccarton: 

Weather: fine, track: Heavy8, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Saturday afternoon.

1:55 p.m. R4 16 Porcia Catonis (4 m Super Seth – Dark Heather) – Rory Hutchings; she remained back when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 25 October, won by stable-mate Legally Binding (below), and contests the $65,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. She has notched up two wins here on the poly-track over 1400 metres, and finds the right opportunity to improve with any luck from her wide draw (15). Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.00. 

2:59 p.m. R6 9 Insatiable (6 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Joe Doyle; he positioned handily and ran the fastest last 600m (32.6) for third in the Rating 75 1100 metres here last Saturday, and contests $140,000 Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m). He does meet a strong field, but carries the minimum weight (53kg), and brings a good course record to the contest. He raced well at this time last year, and shapes to prove competitive with a decent trip from barrier eight - one of two lining up in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $3.90.

2:59 p.m. R6 10 Trobriand (5 g Kermadec – Arboreal) – Bruno Queiroz; he got back beyond midfield and met a mid-straight check when looking to improve in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 10 October at Taupo. Flying south this past week, he also contests the Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes - as mentioned above, this is a strong field, but he too carries minimum weight (53kg) and has the ability to make an impact on this line-up from barrier one. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.10.  

3:34 p.m. R7 2 Legally Binding (4 g Exceedance – Legal Eagle) – Rory Hutchings; the first of two stablemates in this $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, he continued his terrific record when quickening to take a winning advantage in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 25 October, and remains in same grade for this assignment. He rises 2.5kg to carry 60.5kg and meets a solid field, but he is racing well and is a definite top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.80.

3:34 p.m. R7 10 Hooray For Harry (4 g Harry Angel – Here We Come) – Craig Grylls; he got back from his wide draw (12) in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 25 October, won by stablemate Legally Binding (above) but still found the line strongly. Also taking on the Rating 75 1200 metres, he too boasts a good course/distance record, is racing well, and is suited by his handy draw (5). Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.60.

4:09 p.m. R8 4 He Who Dares (3 c Snitzel – Rondinella) – Rory Hutchings; he finished fourth off a handy trip in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) on 1 November at Tauranga, and is one of two starters for the stable in the $700,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). He Impressed winning when racing well as a two-year-old, has delivered two good efforts in this campaign, and appears suited to the course and distance. It’s been a challenging preparation with heavy tracks, postponements and a delayed flight but he’s got a huge heart and has the ability to prove competitive despite his awkward gate (11) - the first of two in the feature event for the team.  Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.40.

4:09 p.m. R8 8 War Of Silence (3 c Snitzel – Silent Sedition) – Matt Cameron; he did very well for a close third after being posted three-wide in the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) here on 25 October, won by stable-mate Origin Of Love (Snitzel), and also contests the Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas. He won on debut and has raced well in all three starts on the course - brings the right form to prove competitive despite the market’s view. Fixed odds: $46.00 & $9.00.

Te Akau has won the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) seven times, most recently in 2021 Noverre (Savabeel), who stands at Waikato Stud. 

4:44 p.m. R9 14 Shockabella (4 m Shocking – My Isabella) – Joe Doyle; she remained midfield in the Rating 65 1600 metres here on 25 October, and contests the $65,000 Rating 65 2000 metres. She won her Maiden over 1800 metres in February at Taupo, and appears suited stepping in distance, but she needs to starts cleanly and overcome her wide draw (16). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.20.

5:20 p.m. R10 10 I’m A Dirty Rascal (8 g Galileo – Remember When, by Danehill Dancer) – Joe Doyle; he displayed true staying qualities to prevail in driving finish to the Rating 82 3000 metres here on 25 October, and contests the $450,000 Group 3 Martin Collins 162nd New Zealand Cup (3200m). It was a timely return to winning form for this lad and he can certainly handle this distance.  Hopefully the forecast rain stays away, and he can also negate his difficult gate (15) as he looks a genuine chance in the other day’s feature. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.90.

5:20 p.m. R10 11 Court Of Appeal (5 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel) – Bruno Queiroz; she raced away to win the Open Handicap 2200 metres on 11 October at Ashburton by four lengths, and fought hard after being caught three-wide from her outside draw (13) in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) here last Saturday. She too takes on the Group 3 Martin Collins 162nd New Zealand Cup, has the pedigree to handle the distance and is ideally drawn (7) to receive a softer trip. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20.

Main photo - Noverre winning the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas in 2021