Te Akau North South Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on Saturday 10 October: Hastings and Ashburton.  ?

Hastings: 

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 2 metres. Showers forecast Friday and 4mls rain Saturday. 

12:05 p.m. R1 3 Zanardi (2 c Spirit Of Boom – Pazienza) – Michael McNab; he began smartly to race on terms with the leader and drew out over the concluding stages for a stylish trial win on 11 August at Avondale. Debuting in the $65,000 2YO 800 metres, his is a proven sire of two-year-olds, and his Te Akau trained dam impressed winning on debut. He’s big and strong and rates a top three chance from barrier two. Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.25.

2:58 p.m. R6 9 Vintage Rose (3 f Satono Aladdin – Sparkling Rose) – Craig Grylls; she charged home from well back in the field for a debut victory in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 16 September at Matamata, and contests the $65,000 3YO 1400 metres. She hails from the family of Te Akau purchased and trained sires Darci Brahma (Danehill) and Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), and while she faces a step up in class, she won well and has drawn the strategic ace alley. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.00.

5:24 p.m. R10 6 Origin Of Love (4 m Snitzel – Re Edit) – Michael McNab; she found the line solidly for a close fourth after being held up in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 25 September at Te Rapa, also with Michael McNab aboard, and contests the $65,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. She won the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) and Group 2 Wellington Guineas 1600m) last season and was placed in Group races to 2000 metres. The full sister to last weekend’s Australian stakes’ winner Wonka,  she was South Island Champion Three-Year-Old, and looks a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.55. 

Ashburton: 

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

12:20 p.m. R2 2 Bellish Boy (4 g Embellish – Stylish Achiever) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he yielded after working overtime near the pace in the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres on 26 September at Riccarton, and lines up in the corresponding event. He raced competitively in his first campaign, trialled well prior to resuming, and receives a great opportunity to improve with blinkers on from barrier one. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.45.

2:06 p.m. R5 1 Insatiable (7 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Lisa Allpress; he was unsuited on Heavy8 footing in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres on 12 September at Riccarton, and is one of three stable mates contesting the corresponding event. While he carries the equal top weight (60kg), he has recorded an impressive seven wins over sprint distances, and expect a strong showing on better footing.  Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.40.

2:06 p.m. R5 5 Trobriand (6 g Kermadec – Arboreal) – Jim Chung; the second of our runners in the Open Handicap 1200 metres, he had interrupted passage in straight when finishing third in the  corresponding race on 12 September at Riccarton. He ran the fastest last 600m (32.8) for third when resuming the start prior, has finished second at his only course attempt, and rates a top three chance from barrier three. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15. 

2:06 p.m. R5 10 Charmrose (5 m Charm Spirit – Sovereign Rose) – Hayley Hassman (a1); the third of our stable trio in this race, she fought well for a close fourth after leading when resuming in the Open Handicap 1100 metres on 13 September at Te Rapa, and also contests the Open Handicap 1200 metres. She’s been a great mare, getting better with age, and is now the winner of five races to 1200 metres. With an eye on Cup Week, she is having her first start in South Island, and if things can go her way from her wide gate (15) she can give this field a shake. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00.

3:18 p.m. R7 1 Stonybreck (7 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he won a trial here before finding the line for sixth when resuming in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 26 September at Riccarton, also with Hayley aboard. One of two stable starters in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres, he’s notched up an impressive nine career wins to 1600 metres. Expect him to be competitive but he’s another one that will need a big dose of luck from a wide draw (14). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

3:18 p.m. R7 9 Cognoscenti (5 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Jim Chung; he finished fifth after working near the pace in the Open Handicap 1600 metres on 23 September at Timaru, and also contests the Open Handicap 1600 metres. He too has been a solid performer with four wins now, his last two over 2000 metres. While he is destined to step up in distance, we expect him to be in the thick of things if he can secure a decent trip from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

3:54 p.m. R8 1 Zafar (3 c Snitzel – Zasorceress) – Jim Chung; he fought well for fourth on sticky ground when resuming before a close second in the 3YO 1200 metres on 26 September, both at Riccarton. Contesting the $100,000 Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m), he won the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) on debut, and rates a top three chance if he can overcome the tricky gate (10) - the first of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.60.

3:54 p.m. R8 6 Sweetest Thing (3 f Hello Youmzain – Ocean Drive) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she resumed with victory in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) on 12 September at Riccarton, and also contests the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes. She has fashioned a good record in stakes’ races, also being runner up to Te Akau bought and trained Seize The Day in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes last season. Importantly, she brings winning form, but (sounding like s stuck record) she requires luck from her wide draw (14). Fixed odds: $2.05 & $1.20.

Te Akau has won the Barneswood Farm Stakes nine times, most recently last year with Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel). 

5:05 p.m. R10 1 Cool ‘N’ Fast (5 g Savabeel – Cool ‘N’ Sassy) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he ran home well for fourth in a trial here before a tough effort to finish third from an outside gate (13) when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 26 September at Riccarton. Contesting the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, he was a very good back-to-back course/distance winner last season, and from the good barrier (2) watch for him to be finishing off strongly. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.95. 

Main picture - Stoneybreck winning at Riccarton