Te Akau North/South Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 11 horses entered on Saturday 3 September: Wanganui, and Riccarton.

Wanganui:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy10, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Saturday.

12:20 p.m. R1 6 Rhetorical (2 f Snitzel - Xpression) - Craig Grylls; debuts without a trial in the $15,000 Maiden 2YO 800 metres, the first 2YO race of the new season.  She has a tricky barrier draw, jumping eight of nine, but is reported to have gate speed, and is smart and professional. Her dam, Xpression (Showcasing), won the Wakefield Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) at her second start as a two-year-old, also winning the Barneswood Farm Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m), and was placed in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) - one of two juveniles to debut for the stable. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.50.

12:20 p.m. R1 7 Rubicon Crossing (2 f Rubick - Miss Foxwood) - Lisa Allpress; also debuts without a trial in the $15,000 Maiden 2YO 800 metres. She is by a good sire of two-year-olds in Rubick (Encosta de Lago), and is from a Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare that won twice at 1400 metres, while her grand-dam Foxwood (Centaine) won the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Captain Cook Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m). Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.30.

2:05 p.m. R4 8 Romancing The Moon (3 f El Roca - Underthemoonlight) - Lisa Allpress; looked good wining both trials before working to sit outside leader and finishing fourth on debut in the 3YO Fillies 1100 metres last Wednesday at Taupo. Her dam Underthemoonlight (El Hermano) impressed winning on slow and heavy ground, and she shapes to race well from her handy draw (5) in the $65,000 The O'Learys Fillies Stakes (Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.20.

3:14 p.m. R6 1 Accidental Tourist (3 g Telperion - Megara) - Craig Grylls; recorded an easy fresh-up victory in the Maiden 1200 metres on 7 August at Hawera, beating subsequent six-length winner Badgeringdawitness (Reliable Man), and steps up in the $65,000 HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1340m). He quickened very well to win on heavy ground and rates a top three prospect from barrier five. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.60.

Riccarton:

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy8, rail: out 9 metres. No rain forecast.

1:15 p.m. R2 6 Irish Red (4 m Burgundy - Niamh Elizabeth) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); stakes' placed three times, she resumed with a strong victory in the Rating 65 1200 metres last Thursday at Riccarton (poly-track). Talented and consistent, and appearing best on reasonable footing, a further improvement in track conditions should assist her chances in the $30,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.55.

1:52 p.m. R3 1 Malborough Bay (3 g Darci Brahma - Spin ‘N Grin) - Michael McNab; debuted with victory in the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 13 May at Matamata, and resumed running a good final 600m (34.8) for second to stable-mate Fellini (Belardo) in the 3YO Colts & Geldings 1100 metres last Wednesday at Taupo. He requires luck from his awkward draw (11), but is a genuine type that rates a top three chance in the $30,000 3YO 1000 metres - one of two in the event for trainer Mark Walker. Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.30.

1:52 p.m. R3 6 Grace ‘N' Grey (3 f Spirit of Boom - Gracious Grey) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); produced a notable debut second to subsequent dual Group Two placed stable-mate I Choose You (I Am Invincible), before beating stable-mate and ensuing Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner Dynastic (Almanzor) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie. She was unpressured winning on a heavy track when trialling on 16 August at Avondale, and has top three claims in the $30,000 3YO 1000 metres. Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.30.

2:26 p.m. R4 4 Dancarina (4 m Sebring - Dance for Me) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); recorded a strong Maiden win over 1400 metres at Ruakaka, as well as two thirds, from three starts in her first campaign. She finished a close fourth behind Grace ‘N' Grey and Malborough Bay (above) in a trial on 16 August at Avondale, and can pay a dividend fresh-up in the $30,000 Rating 65 1000 metres. Fixed odds: $2.00 & $1.25.

2:58 p.m. R5 3 Summer Monsoon (8 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Michael McNab; was in great form here last season with a second and a first, respectively, before a powerful finish to win the Stewards Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) during Cup Week at Riccarton. While he prefers better footing, he has won on a heavy track and goes well fresh, so look for him to be running home solidly in the $40,000 Open 1000 metres - one of two contesting the open handicap for the stable. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $1.85.

2:58 p.m. R5 4 Burgundy Rose (6 m Burgundy - Paraiba) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); raced very well last season for two wins and a very close up second in the Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m). A winner seven times on different racecourses, she ran home well for fourth in a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa, is a winner on heavy going , and possesses genuine attributes to race well fresh-up in the $40,000 Open 1000 metres. Fixed odds: $2.00 & $1.15.

4:47 p.m. R8 12 Invincibeel (4 m Savabeel - Matakana) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); closed powerfully for third (fastest last 600m: 33.8) in the Rating 65 1200 metres last Thursday at Riccarton (poly-track), and backs up in the $30,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. She unleashed powerfully to win a Maiden 1600 metres in January at Te Rapa, however she requires luck from her carpark gate (15) but should go well if appreciative of the footing. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.