Te Akau NZ New Year's Day Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has 11 horses racing on 1 January: Ellerslie, and Hastings.

Ellerslie:

As on Sunday 31 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 3 metres. 3mls forecast race day.

2.00 p.m. R3 1 Al Hasa (2 c Exceed and Excel - Oasis Rose) - Opie Bosson; produced a scintillating performance to win the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) on New Zealand Cup Day at Riccarton, with Bosson aboard, and freshened since he contests the $70,000 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). He finished second here on debut over 880 metres, has been sharpened with the addition of blinkers, and appears a strong chance from barrier four. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.30.

2.35 p.m. R4 2 Gris Dame (3 f Reliable Man - Double Babu) - Opie Bosson; ran a bottler here on Boxing Day in the Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m), finishing close up in third, and again drew barrier four in the $100,000 Stella Artois Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m). Has the pedigree to appreciate stepping in distance and should go very well providing she backs up off six days. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.80.

2.35 p.m. R4 14 Verbal Command (3 f Commands - Donna Sienna) - Regan Bayliss; led clearly before being collared to finish fourth in the Maiden 2000 metres on 20 December at Matamata. Always appearing as though distance would suit, she receives an opportunity against her own age group in the $100,000 Stella Artois Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m). Fixed odds: $56.00 & $10.50.

4.56 p.m. R8 5 Royal Success (5 g Savabeel - Royal Show) - Cameron Lammas; found the line strongly to score a narrow victory over stable-mate Chambord (Zabeel) in the J Swap Contractors Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 16 December at Te Rapa, with Lammas aboard. The winner of six from 12, including two from two at a mile, he contests the $100,000 Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m). From last, he ran the fastest last 600m (34.5) at his only course attempt and possesses a mixture of toughness and talent to prove competitive from barrier six. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.90.

5.32 p.m. R9 9 Heroic Valour (4 h Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Regan Bayliss; ran another top race when claimed on the line here by race rival Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge) in the Open 1200 metres on 9 December. Boasting an enviable course record: a win and three seconds from four starts, including the Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) as a two-year-old, he certainly brings the right form to threaten with a decent trip from barrier nine in the $200,000 Sistema Railway (Gr. 1, 1200m). Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.40.

5.32 p.m. R9 14 Melody Belle (3 f Commands - Meleka Belle) - Michael McNab; fought hard for third to Volpe Veloce and stable-mate Heroic Valour, above, when resuming here on 9 December in the Open 1200 metres. Crowned Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old for her feats last season, which included winning the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) on this course and the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) at Awapuni, she is beautifully drawn (2) and weighted (52.5kgs) to pose a genuine threat. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.75.

Hastings:

As on Sunday 31 December the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

1.01 p.m. R1 4 Fashionably (4 m Redoute's Choice - Scarlett Lady) - Katelyn Mallyon; came from well back for second to race rival Kirkenes (Encosta De Lago) in the Rating 65 2000 metres here on 14 December, after producing a solid effort for third in the Rating 65 1800 metres on 24 November at New Plymouth. Drawn the outside barrier (6) in a small field for the $10,000 Rating 65 2100 metres, she finished fifth here in the Lowland Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m) as a three-year-old and tough if able recapture that form.

1.36 p.m. R2 9 Trendsetting (3 f Darci Brahma - Velvet and Satin) - Katelyn Mallyon; debuts from barrier four in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. From the family of Darci Brahma (Danehill) and Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), she trialled well in April as a two-year-old and should go well fresh-up over a sprint trip.

2.11 p.m. R3 4 Don'tblamethemusic (4 g Coats Choice - Blame the Music) - Tegan Newman (a3); made up for an unlucky run in Rating 75 1400 metres on 2 December at Ellerslie, sustaining a strong finish to win the Rating 70 1200 metres on 20 December at Matamata, with Newman aboard. Ideally placed in the $11,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, up only 1kg to carry 54.5kgs, he again looks a strong chance in a small field.

3.57 p.m. R6 2 Wide Awake (4 g Savabeel - Kay's Awake) - Katelyn Mallyon; was beautifully ridden to win the Rating 65 1600 metres on 10 November at Avondale, before a strong finish for fifth (2.9 lengths from the winner and clocking the fastest 600m in 34.1) in the Rating 85 1400 metres on 9 December at Ellerslie. Up 3.5kgs in weight to carry 57.5kgs, but down in grade for the $11,000 Rating 75 1600 metres, he looks tough to roll from barrier three.

4.32 p.m. R7 2 Wandering Eye (3 g Commands - Adulterer) - Katelyn Mallyon; resumed off 57 days with a close third in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 10 December at Waipukurau, and contests the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. A winner off the front in September at Taupo, and never back than fourth in four starts, he has the right form to rate an each way chance again.