Te Akau North South Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 17 horses entered on Saturday 11 April: Otaki and Riccarton.     

Otaki: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:45 p.m. R2 6 First Light (2 f Savabeel – Early Morning Rise) – Bruno Queiroz; she found the line boldly after getting back in the Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1050 metres on 22 March at Matamata, and contests the $35,000 2YO 1300 metres. This is a family that excels over more distance, so the step up in distance should hold no fears and she is expected to race well second-up. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.85. 

1:54 p.m. R4 13 Avantaggia (3 f Wootton Bassett – Avantage) – Samantha Collett; she closed off nicely, recording the fastest last 600m (34.7) when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 11 March at Matamata, and contests the $35,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She raced well including a win among her three starts in her first campaign, and has been patiently handled being a slower maturing horse than her exceptional dam Avantage (Fastnet Rock), the nine-time group 1 winner with two coming on this course - she rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05.

3:04 p.m. R6 1 Hakkinen (4 g Savabeel – Miss Scandinavia) – Sam McNab (a2); he closed strongly in the fastest last 600m (35.2) for fourth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 22 March at Matamata, and contests the $35,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. A stylish Maiden winner over 1600 metres, he was also fourth in both the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). He will appreciate the apprentice weight relief to 59.5kg, and has the ability to deliver a top three finish with a good dollop of luck from his wide draw (17). Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.75.  

3:39 p.m. R7 7 Savoir Faire (6 g Savabeel – Etiquette) – Craig Grylls; he made it back-to-back victories, running the fastest last 600m (33.7), in the Open Handicap 2100 metres on 20 March at Pukekohe, and contests the $120,000 Listed NZ Punter of the Year and HB Spring Carnival Hawkes Bay Cup (2200m). He has fashioned a really good record of six wins over 2000-2100 metres, including in Melbourne, with four wins coming on soft ground. The ‘draw gods’ must have been out of sorts as he will need a whole lot to go his way form barrier 19 but he has the country’s leading rider engaged for the task. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.05.

Riccarton: 

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

11:55 a.m. R1 15 Tinuviel (3 f Too Darn Hot – Axiom) – Michael McNab; she travelled behind runners, shot into the clear entering the home straight, and ran on to finish fourth in a trial here on 23 March. Resuming in the $20,000 Maiden 1200 metres, she is a half-sister to Te Akau trained dual Group One winner, Champion 3YO and now sire Xtravagant (Pentire), but her job is made more difficult with the awkward gate (10). Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.75.

1:05 p.m. R3 2 Never Too Much (2 g Rubick – Rebel’s Choice) – Opie Bosson; he sustained a very good gallop for third after racing handily on debut in 2YO 1100 metres on 28 February at Wingatui, and emulated that performance in the Pearl Series 2YO 1000 metres here on 21 March. The first of two stable runners contesting the $80,000 Listed Property Brokers Welcome Stakes (1000m), she deserves to be respected in the market and is more than capable of snaring some important black type from barrier four. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.40.

1:05 p.m. R3 5 Enchantment (2 f Hello Youmzain – Belle Fascino) – Michael McNab; she resumed with a resilient effort off a wide trip for a close up second in the Pearl Series 2YO 1000 metres here on 21 March, and likewise contests the Listed Welcome Stakes. Also seeking to extend our stable’s remarkable record in this race, she was extremely game fresh-up, and she too has the talent to deliver a top three finish as she breaks from barrier five. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.40.

Te Akau has previously won the Welcome Stakes nine times, most recently in 2024 with homebred Nucleozor (Almanzor).

1:40 p.m. R4 2 Vivacious (5 m Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she resumed with a terrific winning performance in Rating 75 1200 metres on 4 March and finished fifth when stepping up in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 21 March, both here at Riccarton. One of two stable starters in the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, she has notched up five wins to 1400 metres, and has the plus of weight relief to 57kg as she drops back in grade. Her draw (11) isn’t helpful but she has the racing style to overcome that and deliver a dividend paying finish. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.20.

1:40 p.m. R4 3 Cool ‘N’ Fast (4 g Savabeel – Cool ‘N’ Sassy) – Opie Bosson; the second runner for the stable in the Rating 75 1400 metres, he made it back-to-back course victories when winning the Rating 75 1400 metres on 12 March at Ashburton. He does have additional weight to carry this time (59kgs) but he remains in the same grade and his current confidence levels should see him respected as a top three contender from the handy barrier three. Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.75.

2:14 p.m. R5 11 High Roller (4 g Ace High – Miss Thorn) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he remained back after being slowly underway in the Rating 65 1600 metres here on 21 March, won by stable-mate Perlino (below), and contests the $35,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. He raced well for second here over 1800 metres three starts ago, has weight relief to 55kg, and is capable of an improved performance from barrier six. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $4.00.

2:45 p.m. R6 7 Perlino (3 f Super Seth – Palomino) – Opie Bosson; she registered the 100th win this season for premiership leading trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson in the Rating 65 1600 metres here on 21 March, and is one of two stable runners lining up in the $80,000 Listed NZB Insurance Stakes over 1600m. She won a Maiden 1600 metres here by seven and a half lengths and sustained a good effort in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m) after racing wide. From barrier two she can be right in the thick of the finishing action. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.65. 

2:45 p.m. R6 10 Aishiteru (3 f Satono Aladdin – Cuddles For Layla) – Michael McNab; she recorded a strong all-the-way win in the Maiden 2000 metres here on 18 February, and was then put under no pressure when finishing late into third in a trial here on 23 March. Stepping up in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes, she broke through at her third start in determined fashion, and appears capable of proving competitive from barrier one. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.20. 

Te Akau won the corresponding race last year with Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard).

3:20 p.m. R7 3 Insatiable (6 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Joe Doyle; he kept closing solidly for sixth in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 12 March at Ashburton, and contests the $40,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres. He maintained a strong gallop to win the Open Handicap 1100 metres here three starts ago (4 Feb.), brings good course/distance stats to the contest, and is more than capable of proving competitive if things go his way from the outside draw (13). Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.60.

3:55 p.m. R8 4 Cognito (6 g So You Think – Lady Primrose) – Triston Moodley (a); he peaked on his run after racing outside the leader in the Hororata Gold Cup (Open Handicap, 1800m) here on 21 March, and is the first of a stable duo contesting the $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m). He is a very versatile galloper with six wins from 1200m – 1800m on his CV, including a Group Two win and three wins on the course, and he’s perfectly drawn (2) to give this a good shake. Fixed odds: $19.00 & $5.50. 

3:55 p.m. R8 7 Stonybreck (6 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Opie Bosson; he finished strongly from a handy position for a close third in the Hororata Gold Cup (Open Handicap, 1800m) here on 21 March, and also contests the TAB Southern Alps Challenge. He’s put together a great resume, the winner of eight races to 1550 metres, as well as being an impressive course winner. He brings the right form to also be highly competitive, if he can navigate the tricky gate (10) but he has the pilot for the job on top. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $3.20.

4:29 p.m. R9 1 Elegant Lady (6 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she ran home well from beyond midfield for fifth in the Hororata Gold Cup (Open Handicap, 1800m) here on 21 March, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 2000 metres. With four wins to 2200 metres, she has been twice stakes’ placed to 2400m. She has the plus of weight relief to 59kg, and is a mare of great consistency.  She has also drawn an awkward barrier (11) so that is something of a challenge but expect her to go another very honest and genuine race - one of two in the race for the team. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $4.00.

4:29 p.m. R9 4 Cognoscenti (4 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Opie Bosson; the second stable runner in the Rating 75 2000m, he won the same grade/distance on 4 March and sustained a strong gallop under his own steam to win a subsequent trial on 23 March, both here at Riccarton. Despite going up in the weights to carry 59.5kg, he is in good form and he too will prove competitive with  Opie in the saddle to negate the nasty barrier (15). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.40. 

Main picture - Savoir Faire winning