Te Akau North/South Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 11 horses entered on Saturday 17 September: New Plymouth and Riccarton.

New Plymouth:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy9, rail: out 7 metres. No rain forecast.

12:40 p.m. R1 3 Homegrown (4 g Turn Me Loose - Dresden Park) - Lisa Allpress; finished sixth when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres on 6 August at Ruakaka, and was a solid third in the Maiden 1200 metres on 28 August at Matamata. Contesting the $15,000 Maiden 1400 metres, he rates a top three chance if appreciative of the course at his first attempt and stepping up in distance. Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.25.

1:52 p.m. R3 4 Luxembourg (4 g Burgundy - Miss Daphne) - Craig Grylls; led throughout for a fresh-up victory in the Maiden 1200 metres on 22 May at Hawera, and trialled twice before failing to fire in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 24 August at Taupo, won by stable-mate Zeitaku (Savabeel). He receives the opportunity to improve from barrier one in the $30,000 Rating 65 990 metres. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $3.60.

2:26 p.m. R4 9 Luxuriant (5 m Iffraaj - Opulent) - Lisa Allpress; won her Maiden over 1200 metres in April at Hawera, and ran the fastest last 600m (36.2) after missing the start in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 24 August at Taupo, won by stable-mate Outfit (Tivaci). Unfortunately she has drawn wide (13) in the $30,000 Rating 65 1300 metres, but is capable of a bold showing if she does things right. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

4:08 p.m. R7 3 Leaderboard (8 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Lisa Allpress; won the New Zealand St Leger (Listed, 2600m), and put up a big effort for second in the Hawke's Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m), before being spelled after finishing fifth in the Rotorua Cup (Gr. 3, 2200m). He was okay resuming in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 28 August at Matamata, and contests the $60,000 ITM Interprovincial (Open, 1800m). He drops in weight to carry 54kg and will be competitive if he too is appreciative of the course at his first look. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.60.

Riccarton:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: out 9 metres. No rain forecast.

2:05 p.m. R4 3 Navalha (5 g Sebring - Afiado) - Opie Bosson; got back from a wide draw and ran home strongly for third when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 24 August at Taupo, won by stable-mate Outfit (Tivaci). Ideally drawn (2) in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, he rates a top three prospect if appreciative of the course at his first try. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.45.

2:39 p.m. R5 3 Burgundy Rose (6 m Burgundy - Paraiba) - Opie Bosson; raced very well last season for two wins and a brave second in the Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m), and recorded her eighth win with a very good fresh-up performance here in the Open 1000 metres on 3 September. Up in weight to carry 59.5kg in the $40,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres, she should race well again with luck from the awkward barrier 11 - the first of two in the race for the stable. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.40.

2:39 p.m. R5 5 Summer Monsoon (8 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); won the Stewards' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) during Cup Week at Riccarton last November and resumed in the Open 1000 metres here on 3 September won by Burgundy Rose (above). Ideally drawn (3) in the $40,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres, the addition of blinkers may aid his cause. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.20.

3:14 p.m. R6 3 I Choose You (3 f I Am Invincible - Choose) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); was a debut winner and was twice Group Three placed during her two-year-old season. Without favours when resuming in the 3YO Fillies 1100 metres on 24 August at Taupo, she finished well for a close third in a trial on 6 September at Tauranga, and contests the $65,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m). She has the ability to rate top three chance with luck from the tricky barrier 10 - the first of two stable runners in the feature event. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.40.

3:14 p.m. R6 13 One Kiss (3 f Tivaci - Discreet Evening) - Opie Bosson; won two of three trials before racing greenly on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 24 August at Taupo, won by stable-mate and subsequent second placed Cognito (So You Think). She has ability but too requires luck, having drawn the outside gate (14) in the $65,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.90.

3:49 p.m. R7 8 Campionessa (5 m Contributer - Bella Carolina) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); closed well for fourth when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 25 August before stretching out well to win the Rating 75 1400 metres on 1 September, both here on poly-track. The winner of five races to 1600 metres and with a notable fifth in the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m), she presents as a top three chance with any favours from her wide gate (11) in the $40,000 Open Handicap 1800 metres. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.45.

4:24 p.m. R8 1 Zouluminous (6 m Zoustar - Luminous Harmony) - Opie Bosson; showed plenty of zest for second, fresh-up, in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 25 August and finished strongly before being claimed on line by Campionessa (above) in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 1 September, both here on poly-track. She ended her previous campaign with a very good second in the South Island Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 26 March at Riccarton, and is going very well. However the weight (62kg) and wide draw (16) makes it very tough in the $30,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.