Te Akau NZ Hastings Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses entered for the nine-race premier programme on Saturday Aug. 30 at Hastings.

As on Friday Aug. 29 the conditions were: cloudy and Dead6, rail true.

1.15 p.m. R3 7 Wolfwhistle (4 h O'Reilly - Legs) - Matt Cameron; galloped out strongly to win a 1200-metre trial on Aug. 5 at Te Teko, and resumes off 105-day in the Rating 75 1600 metres. Prior to having a freshen-up he came from off the pace, lengthening clear late to win the Rating 65 1600 metres on May 17 at Te Rapa. While striking likely favourite Pondarosa Miss (High Chaparral), he does seem to have the measure of other rivals and providing a comfortable trip has the ability to quicken into a challenging position. He found the line at his only previous start here in the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) and his dam, Legs (Pins), won the Kelt Capital Stakes (Gr. 1, 2040m) on this course.

3.42 p.m. R7 5 Chambord (4 g Zabeel - Miss Montjeu) - Matt Cameron; like his stable-mate, above, he too was a last start winner before taking a break. On April 26, in the Rating 75 1200 metres at Te Rapa, he settled tenth but once produced at the 250 metres raced clear to score impressively by three and a half lengths. He has shown to come on nicely since finishing fourth in a trial over 1040 metres earlier in the month and carries an ideal amount of condition for a fresh up run in the Rating 85 1200 metres. He will get back from a wide draw, but the runner-up in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) of last season can give his rivals plenty to think about with the right path into proceedings.

4.17 p.m. R8 17 Abidewithme (5 m Redoute's Choice - Crimson) - Matt Cameron; had her last race at the same Te Rapa meeting as Chambord, when late seeing daylight in the Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and resumes off 126-days in the weight-for-age Makfi Challenge Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m). Unbeaten off ninety days or more, with a 4-3-1 record at the trip, and a dual stakes winner amongst six victories from only twelve starts, she has proved herself a mare of undeniable talent and worthy of commencing her campaign in a race of this magnitude. She had genuine excuses in each of her last two starts and although coming up with a horror draw she brings a willingness to race that is superior to the $51 & $11 odds currently offered by the TAB.