Te Akau North South Tuesday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on 28 December: Rotorua and Timaru.

Rotorua:

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. 6mls rain forecast race day.

1:47 p.m. R2 10 Leica Star  (3 f Highly Recommended - Leica Glory) - Craig Grylls; worked on the pace and stole a break before being overhauled in a Maiden 1400 metres on 10 December at Tauranga, and contests the $12,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. She has first four claims from barrier five.

2:22 p.m. R3 1 Shezathinka (6 m So You Think - Headsup) - Niranjan Parmar (a4); given time (73 days) after a solid fourth in a Rating 74 1600 metres on 16 October at the Hastings premier meeting, she was unpressured quickening nicely for second at the trials here on 13 December.  She resumes in the $12,000 Rating 74 1400 metres, one of three stable runners. A course winner, with weight relief to 55kg, she is destined for further but is capable of a cheeky race from barrier two.

2:22 p.m. R3 3 Miss Aotearoa  (4 m Per Incanto - Danex) - Opie Bosson; was no threat from yet another outside draw (12) and settled last, but ran same last 600m (34) as the winner in a Rating 74 1200 metres on 11 December at Te Rapa. She meets a softer field in the $12,000 Rating 74 1400 metres, and is a talented stakes' winner that rates a top three chance from barrier five.

2:22 p.m. R3 6 Lightning Field (5 g Deep Field - Claudine) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); won second-up when charging home in a Rating 65 1200 metres on 19 November at New Plymouth, and was a notable third to subsequent Boxing Day winner Jodelin Gal in a Rating 74 1400 metres on 10 December at Tauranga. He is going well, enjoys weight relief to 55kg, was runner up at his only previous course attempt, and has top three prospects in the $12,000 Rating 74 1400 metres.

2:57 p.m. R4 1 Flat Track Bully  (4 g Reliable Man - Lime Squeeze) - Opie Bosson; finished well for second in a Maiden 1200 metres on 10 December at Tauranga, and contests the $12,000 Maiden 1215 metres. His wide draw (11) makes it very tough, but he rates among the top four with any luck - one of two in the event for the stable.

2:57 p.m. R4 10 Highborn  (4 m Savabeel - Tempo Manor) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); finished fourth off a good trip in a Maiden 1400 metres on 24 November at Tauranga, and given time (34 days) also contests the $12,000 Maiden 1215 metres. She does possess first four claims as she drops to 54.5kg, but is another who needs luck from a difficult draw (15).

4:09 p.m. R6 1 The Mighty Spar  (4 g Savabeel - O'Dianne) - Opie Bosson; got back and ran home in good fashion in a leader-dominated Rating 65 1400 metres on 11 December at Te Rapa, and steps up in $12,000 Rating 65 1560 metres. He appears a good each-way chance from barrier five with the top rider engaged.

5:19 p.m. R8 1 Shepherd's Delight (3 f Rip Van Winkle - Safari Sunset) - Niranjan Parmar (a4); won her third start on 23 October at Riccarton and backed up with a tremendous second to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) - delivering a Te Akau first four home. Freshened, she was eye-catching late during an exhibition gallop with stable-mate Entriviere (Tavistock) on 23 December at Matamata. Despite the tricky draw (12) she rates a top three chance in the $12,000 Rating 65 1215 metres with weight relief to 58.5kg.

Timaru:

Weather: raining, track: Dead6, rail: true. 25mls rain forecast.

1:32 p.m. R2 2 Fashion Shoot  (4 m Savabeel - High Fashion) - Jason Laking; was overhauled late when sixth on a Slow7 track in a Rating 74 1200 metres on NZ Cup Day (13 Nov.) at Riccarton, on the quick back-up.  She was then freshened before quickening solidly for third at the trials (poly-track) on 14 December at Riccarton. A fresh-up winner over 1200 metres in September, she resumes in the $12,000 Rating 65 1200 metres and was a course/distance third to stable-mate Secret Amour (Niagara) - the rain is a concern but she rates a top three contender if the footing is okay.

2:05 p.m. R3 5 Radegast (5 g Savabeel - Marveen) - Rohan Mudhoo (a1); got back and short of room in a Rating 65 1400 metres on NZ Cup Day (13 Nov.) at Riccarton and was freshened before a strong run for second at the trials (poly-track) on 14 December at Riccarton. Resuming in the $12,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, he may handle some give in ground.

2:40 p.m. R4 1 Challa (5 g Dissident - Are There Any) - Sanu Toolooa (a3); ended a three start campaign with a strong second in a Rating 74 1200 metres on 23 October at Riccarton, and was also freshened before comfortably holding the opposition at bay at the trials (poly-track) on 14 December at Riccarton. Resuming in the $12,000 Rating 74 1200 metres, with weight relief to 58.5kg, he has the speed to negate the outside draw (12) and has previously acted with give in ground.

3:16 p.m. R5 1 Leaderboard  (7 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Sanu Toolooa (a3); ended his last campaign with a very good third in New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) on 13 November at Riccarton, and was freshened before working home solidly for second at the trials (poly-track) on 14 December at Riccarton. Resuming in the $12,000 Rating 74 1600 metres, also with weight relief to 59kg, and he too has performed with give in ground.