Te Akau NZ Ellerslie Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses entered during the nine-race premier programme on Saturday Sept. 28 at Ellerslie.

As at 8:43am on Friday Sept. 27 the conditions were: fine and Heavy10, rail true to 2.5 metres.

2:30pm R5 2 Spellbinder (3 f O'Reilly - Scenic Sprint) - Matt Cameron; pace to lead, travelled best near the home turn and lengthened clear for an impressive debut win on Sept. 9 in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on good ground at Taupo.  Accepted for the Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m), trainer Jason Bridgman would rather see slow ground at worst for the filly and will reserve a decision on starting - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

2:30pm R5 4 Ruthless Lady (3 f Keeper - Lady Dehere) - Noel Harris; settled sixth and pushed up to challenge rounding the home turn, she received buffeting on a couple of occasions in the straight on Sept. 7 in the H S Dyke Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1340m) at Wanganui. Drawn barrier one, with blinkers on for the first time, she will be ridden to the best part of the track and hope to cop the footing.

3:46pm R7 4 King's Rock (3 c Fastnet Rock - Nureyev's Girl) - Matt Cameron; settled twelfth off the outside gate, he travelled up nicely approaching the home turn and sustained a big finish to win on debut in the Maiden 1400 metres on Sept. 11 at Te Rapa. He struck footing upgraded to Slow7 on the day, running 1:25.55 for the trip, and like Spellbinder he would prefer improvement in track conditions.

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