Te Akau North South Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 15 horses entered on Saturday 11 February: Te Rapa, and Ricccarton.

Te Rapa:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:25 p.m. R1 5 Fashion Shoot (5 m Savabeel - High Fashion) - Opie Bosson; she resumed with an unlucky fifth to stable-mate Synchronize (Savabeel) in the Hallmark Stud Handicap (Listed, 1200m) on Boxing Day, and posted a big run for third in the Concorde Handicap (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 21 January, both at Pukekohe. Unbeaten in two course attempts, she is up in weights (58kg) but rates a top three chance in the $50,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.65. 

12:25 p.m. R1 8 Wairau Cove (3 g Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass) - Michael McNab; he resumed with a good effort from second last to finish sixth in the Rating 65 1200 metres here on 1 January, and was a good second to stable-mate Millefiori (below) on heavier ground than he prefers in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 13 January at Tauranga. The visor blinkers go on, he is talented, and also rates a top three prospect in the $50,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.20.

1:00 p.m. R2 9 Sans Doute (3 f Not A Single Doubt - My Prerogative) - Opie Bosson; she gave her rivals a start and a beating in the Maiden 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, before peaking after circling widest in the Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 21 January at Pukekohe. She looks a top three proposition with any luck from her awkward draw (9) in the $50,000 Special Conditions 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.75. 

1:35 p.m. R3 2 Millefiori (4 m Iffraaj - Miss Bluebell) - Craig Zackey; she coped best with heavy conditions for a dominant victory in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 13 January at Tauranga, and she remains in the same grade in the $50,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. She is now up three kilos to carry 58.5kg, but is capable of another good performance with luck from her wide draw (10). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80. 

1:35 p.m. R3 6 Pure Imagination (4 g Darci Brahma - Granadilla) - Opie Bosson; he produced an undeniable finish to win the Rating 65 1200 metres on 13 January at Tauranga, and contests the $50,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. He was a course/distance winner at his only attempt and has the ability to measure up as a top three chance. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

2:10 p.m. R4 2 Safura (3 f Almanzor - Corsage) - Opie Bosson; she produced a big effort for third in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) here on 1 January, and impressed winning the Maiden 2000 metres on 25 January at Matamata. Contesting the David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m), she rates a top three chance with luck from outside gate (11). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.10.

3:19 p.m. R6 8 Campionessa (5 m Contributer - Bella Carolina) - Opie Bosson; she powered away to win fresh-up in the Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) here on 1 January, and ran the fastest last 600m (33.1) on the day for fourth in the Trentham Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m) on 14 January at Trentham. In terrific form, she rates a top three chance from barrier three in the $450,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.00. 

3:19 p.m. R6 10 Wild Night (3 g Vanbrugh - Supreme) - Michael McNab; he continued his great form with a second in the $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) on 21 January at Pukekohe, and steps up in the $450,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). The winner of five from seven, including two from three on the course, he drops to 54kg under the weight-for-age scale, and rates a top three chance from barrier two. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.50. 

3:55 p.m. R7 1 Shepherd's Delight (4 m Rip Van Winkle - Safari Sunset) - Opie Bosson; she got back before closing nicely in the Rating 75 1400 metres here on 1 January, and drops in grade for the $50,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. She is without much luck of late and is capable of a bold effort from barrier four. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

3:55 p.m. R7 2 Cote de Beaune (4 g Burgundy - Lucrative) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); he made ground in the Rating 75 1400 metres here on 1 January, but never quickened on soft ground in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 25 January at Matamata, and drops in grade for the $50,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. The visor blinkers go on, he has weight relief to 58kg, but requires luck from the wide gate (12). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

4:29 p.m. R8 5 Imperatriz (4 m I Am Invincible - Berimbau) - Opie Bosson; she found plenty when running the fastest last 600m (33.1) on the day to win the Sistema Railway (Gr. 1, 1200m) here on 1 January, and was the fastest again (33.8) winning the Westbury Classic (Gr. 2, 1400m) on 21 January at Pukekohe. Champion Three-Year-Old, triple Group One winner, 11 wins from 16 starts, she rates top three proposition from barrier one in the $300,000 BCD Group Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m). Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.30. 

4:29 p.m. R8 12 Maven Belle (3 f Burgundy - Doyenne) - Craig Zackey; she was the Champion Two-Year-Old last season, resumed with an emphatic victory in the 3YO 1200 metres on 8 January, running the fastest last 600m (32.7) on the day, and emulated that victory in the Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 21 January, both at Pukekohe. A Group Three winner at her only course attempt, she drops to 53.5kg under weight-for-age scale, she can feature in the finish from barrier one in the $300,000 BCD Group Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m). Fixed odds: $16.00 & $3.80. 

5:09 p.m. R9 11 It's Business Time (4 m Turn Me Loose - Risque Business) - Opie Bosson; she scored stylishly in the Maiden 1600 metres on 3 January, and kept giving for second after working outside leader in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 25 January, both at Matamata. She rates a top three chance with a decent trip from barrier 10 in the $50,000 Special Conditions 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90. 

Riccarton:

Weather: showery, track: Soft6, rail: out 3 metres. Showers forecast.

1:15 p.m. R3 3 Miss Dunsford (3 f Dissident - She Chose Me) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she was a notable third off a wide gate (12) at her first course attempt in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 28 January, and contests the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She won her Maiden over 1200 metres on good ground at Pakenham, Victoria, and rates a top three chance from barrier two. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.

3:06 p.m. R6 1 Burgundy Rose (6 m Burgundy - Paraiba) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she resumed without a trial finishing second in the Open Handicap 1000 metres on 21 January at Trentham, and contests the $40,000 Open Handicap 1100 metres. She has to carry the top weight (59kg) which makes it tough, but she is ideally drawn (3) and races well here. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.30.