Te Akau North South Super Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on Saturday 28 September: Hastings, and Riccarton. 

Hastings: 

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 4 metres. Showers Friday and no rain forecast Saturday. 

1:40 p.m. R3 3 Wild Night (5 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Opie Bosson; he was held together while going well for third in a trial on 19 September at Rotorua, and resumes in the $65,000 Open Handicap 1300 metres. The winner of six from 13, including the Group 2 Sarten Memorial over 1400m, he has been off the scene due to injury. He was scratched from Te Rapa on Friday due to track conditions and will looking to recapture the form we all k now he is capable of this new campaign.  The trick will be for our stable rider to secure a decent trip for 'Morrie' from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.70. 

2:53 p.m. R5 11 Captured By Love (3 f Written Tycoon – Moldova) – Warren Kennedy; she kept closing into second when resuming in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes 1200m here on 7 September, and contests the $175,000 Group 2 Animal Health Direct Hawkes Bay Guineas over 1400m. She is a two-time Group Two winner and was twice Group One placed last season. While she meets a solid field, she has the ability to deservedly be considered a top three chance with any luck from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $2.45 & $1.25. 

3:28 p.m. R6 1 Trobriand (4 g Kermadec – Arboreal) – Opie Bosson; he charged away for a fresh-up victory in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 21 August at Taupo, also with Bosson aboard, and contests the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. The Group 2 Eclipse Stakes winner over 1200m as two-year-old, he was consistent against the best of his age group last season. While he carries 60kg, he nonetheless should be considered a top three contender but again, he's another who has a difficult gate to overcome - in fact the outside gate (12) - but the right man to do that is in the saddle. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.90.

4:06 p.m. R7 11 Skew Wiff (5 m Savabeel – Starvoia) – Opie Bosson; she closed strongly for fourth when defending her title in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy here on 7 September, and contests the $400,000  Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate over the mile. Placed three from three in Group 1 and Group 2 races over 1600 metres, she was also a Group 3 winner at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year. She poses a realistic top three chance if she can get the rub of the green from her awkward draw (12). Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.85.

4:38 p.m. R8 5 Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay) – Warren Kennedy; another scratched from Te Rapa on Friday, in search of better going, she remained back on heavy ground when resuming in the Open Handicap 1500 metres on 4 September at Matamata, has since had exhibition gallop, and contests the $65,000 Open Handicap 2000 metres. Runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks as three-year-old, she was a dual winner to 2200 metres last season, including a victory in the Taupo Cup, and has the ability to prove competitive with - you guessed it - luck from the outside gate (13). Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.60.

Riccarton: 

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 9 metres to 1000m and 11 metres to winning post. No rain forecast. 

12:48 p.m. R2 1 Age Of Discovery (3 c Savabeel – Bayrock) – Wiremu Pinn; he gained the upper hand for a smart debut win in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 14 September, and contests the $40,000 3YO 1400 metres. He is expected to have improved with the winning experience, and he warrants favouritism as he jumps from barrier five. Fixed odds: $1.40 & $1.05.

2:02 p.m. R4 2 Tokyo Tycoon (4 g Satono Aladdin – All About The Coin) – Ngakau Hailey (a3); the first of three in the fourth race on the programme, the showy individual resumes without a trial in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. A former Karaka Million 2YO  winner who was crowned Champion Two-Year-Old of his year, he has no shortage of ability at his best, and will be looking to start to recapture the form we know he is capable of. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.95.

2:02 p.m. R4 8 Malmaison (4 g Darci Brahma – Altai Rose) – Wiremu Pinn; the second stable runner on this event, he made it back-to-back wins with a strong performance in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 23 August at Awapuni (poly-track), also with Pinn aboard, and he too contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. He has the ability to handle the rise in grade, is super consistent, and look for him to be right in the thick of the action at the business end of the race. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.60. 

2:02 p.m. R4 11 Superbly Written (4 m Written Tycoon – Supara) – Ashvin Goindasamay; the last of the tangerine trio lining up in this event, she ended her previous campaign with big effort to win the Rating 65 1200 metres here in February, however then lost her chance after rearing as the gates opened when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 21 August at Taupo. She brings a good course record to this contest and has the ability to prove competitive with a good dose of luck from her wide draw (14). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.60.

2:37 p.m. R5 1 Perfect Scenario (7 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay) – Ngakau Hailey (a3); the stable's southern statesman, he resumed with victory in the Open Handicap 1200 metres here on 14 September, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres. He has a very good course/distance record, and is a dual Group 3 winner over 1600 metres at weight-for-age level. He 'grows another leg' when he returns south and with the apprentice weight relief to 59.5kg, he is a realistic first three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.45.

3:12 p.m. R6 8 El Viento (4 g El Roca – Mandeville) – Wiremu Pinn; he drew the outside gate (12) and ran home okay from last when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 31 August. However he picked up strongly to win a trial on 17 September at Ashburton, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. He won twice over 1400 metres last season, the mile should suit, and he has definite first four claims if he can navigate the awkward barrier (11). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95.

3:47 p.m. R7 3 Fierce Flight (6 g Flying Artie – First Bloom) – Wiremu Pinn; he ran the fastest last 600m (33.6) for fourth when resuming in the Open Handicap 1600 metres on 31 August and was the same again (34.3) for fourth in the New Zealand Cup Trial (Open Handicap, 1800 metres) on 14 September, both here at Riccarton. He is the winner of six races from 1600m – 2200m, including the Listed Hawkes Bay Cup (over 2200m. He has also placed twice to 3200 metres at Group 3 level, and watch for him making his presence felt in the $50,000 Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m) - he is more than capable of a podium finish as he builds towards another New Zealand Cup tilt. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.90.