Te Akau NZ Counties Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses entered for the ten-race premier programme on Saturday Nov. 23 at Pukekohe. 

As on Friday Nov. 22 the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail true.

12:35pm R1 6 Hardcore Rock (3 c Fastnet Rock - River Dreaming) - Matt Cameron; continued his solid performances when finishing fourth in a good form race on Oct. 23 in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres at Te Aroha. He got as close any rival to 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) Atlante (Fastnet Rock) when second to him two starts ago at Avondale, and with blinkers on warrants favouritism from barrier one in the Maiden 1600 metres.

1:45pm R3 10 Flaming (2 f Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - Matt Cameron; did very well finishing fourth to race rival Lautner (Keeninsky) when debuting on Oct. 26 over 880 metres at Ellerslie. Up in distance for the Murdoch Newell Stakes (Listed, 1100m), she can again prove competitive with a smooth trip from barrier six.

2:20pm R4 5 Urban Angel (5 m Savabeel - Tutuland) - Matt Cameron; did everything but win when beaten a long head by Etoile Filante (Pins) on this course, as the pair worked clear, on Oct. 30 in the Benchmark 75 1600 metres. In the corresponding race, her hopes are enhanced by the prospect of an economical trip from barrier three and her good affinity with this track - placed three from four attempts - makes her a strong contender.

4:45pm R8 14 Thrive (6 m Colombia - Trove) - Kelly Myers; received a shuffle on the rail to pass the 600 metres locked away six lengths astern and poked through tight quarters to claim third on Nov. 2 in the Feilding Gold Cup (Listed, 2100m) at Awapuni. Prior to, she made good ground from last when closing the margin to 4.2 lengths in the weight-for-age Spring Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) at Hastings. This horse and rider combined to win the Merial Metric Mile (Gr. 3, 1600m) in Sept on slow footing at Awapuni. She is a mare that has continued to prosper with racing in this campaign and able to negate a wide draw she can make her presence felt in the Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m).

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