Te Akau NZ Boxing Day Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing at two venues on Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December.

Ellerslie:

As on Friday 25 December the conditions were: cloudy and Dead5, rail true.

12.40 p.m. R1 3 Ekraarstatic (5 m Ekraar - Nugget Point) - Opie Bosson; returned to form with a purposeful run for second here on Dec. 5 in the Rating 85 2200 metres, with the winner Salford Art (Sir Percy) since finishing second in the Manawatu Cup. In the $50,000 Rating 85 2100 metres, she again appears a solid each way chance with the top rider aboard.

1.50 p.m. R3 6 Vive La Difference (4 m Choisir - L'Artiste) - Matt Cameron; freshened since winning twice during a very solid campaign down south, she has pleased in her work to resume in the $50,000 Rating 85 1400 metres. Ridden patiently, she should be finishing strongly before stepping up in distance.

2.25 p.m. R4 1 Xtravagant (3 c Pentire - Axiom) - Matt Cameron; blew his rivals away when winning the $400,000 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) in race record time (1:33.5) on Nov. 7 at Riccarton. Freshened since and appearing to have thrived when giving an exhibition gallop on Dec. 11 at Tauranga, with stable-mate Scrutinize (Savabeel) who has since won impressively, the form says he is too good for this field in the $50,000 3YO 1400 metres.

3.05 p.m. R5 4 Flaming (4 m Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - Matt Cameron; performed very well down south when recording a couple of top wins, the most recent of which was a terrific run in the Rating 75 1200 metres. Carrying more weight (58kgs) in the $50,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, she meets a better class of horse and but has her share of ability to compete with luck from a wide draw.

4.50 p.m. R8 13 Smashing (4 m Pins - Ruud Van Slaats) - Chris Johnson; ran a top race when nailed right on the line last Saturday at Awapuni, after racing clear to win impressively when resuming in the Rating 75 1000 metres on Nov. 25 at Te Aroha. Facing a step up in class for the $60,000 Hallmark Stud Handicap (Listed, 1200m), she carries the minimum weight (53kgs) and again has the services of Chris Johnson. Much will depend on how she travels in or near the lead in a strong field.

Awapuni:

As on Friday 25 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true.

4.35 p.m. R7 3 Opulent (4 m Keeper - Silk Slipper) - Dylan Mo (a2); has freshened up nicely since winning and then finishing a close fifth in the $80,000 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m), during her trip south to Riccarton. Prior to, she ended her previous campaign with back-to-back wins at Ruakaka. Ideally placed to resume in the $22,500 Rating 75 1400 metres, she has weight relief to 56.5kgs, acts fresh, and should prove a strong each way chance with luck in running from the outside barrier - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

4.35 p.m. R7 9 Astrid (4 m Pins - Astralita) - Dylan Turner (a1); staged a tough effort for fourth in the Rating 75 1340 metres at Wanganui, after an interrupted passage. She resumed with a dominant win over 1200 metres at Te Aroha, and able to secure a good trip from barrier five then she can also rate a top three chance.