Te Akau NZ North South Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 20 horses entered on Saturday 10 February: Te Rapa and Riccarton.

Te Rapa:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Saturday. 

12:25 p.m. R1 5 El Viento (3 g El Roca – Mandeville) – Opie Bosson; he ran home strongly when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres on 22 December and let down with a flourish to win stylishly on 10 January, both at Matamata. He is the type who finds the line strongly and rates a top three chance in the $65,000 Rating 65 1300 metres - one of two for the team lining up in the first race on the card. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.   

12:25 p.m. R1 7 Balance Of Power (3 g Almanzor – Respin) – Warren Kennedy; he ran home fine over a sprint trip when trialling on 23 January at Taupo, and resumes in the $65,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. Stakes' placed as two-year-old, he won easily over 1400 metres earlier in the season, and has first four claims if the country's leading jockey ca secure a decent trip from barrier eight. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70.   

1:00 p.m. R2 4 Certainly (3 f Savabeel – Frankly) – Opie Bosson; she impressively won the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres, recording the fastest last 600m (34.7), on 22 December at Matamata, and also the fastest last 600m (34.0) for a close up sixth to stable-mate Quintessa (below) when storming home late in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 13 January at Trentham. Ideally drawn (2) in the $65,000 Special Conditions 1200 metres, she has an Australian campaign on her radar from our Cranbourne stable, and looks a serious top three prospect - in a race featuring another stable pair. Fixed odds: $1.55 & $1.15. 

1:00 p.m. R2 8 Vivacious (3 f Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Warren Kennedy; she improved widest rounding the home turn and finished solidly when trialling on 23 January at Taupo, and resumes in the $65,000 Special Conditions 1200 metres. She surged through to win the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres in November at Te Aroha, before a striking wet track not to her liking in the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) at Trentham, and is ideally drawn (4) to race well. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.30.

1:35 p.m. R3 3 Insatiable (4 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Opie Bosson; he travelled on the bridle in the trail and was held together for second when trialling on 23 January at Taupo, and resumes in the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. He continued to race well after consecutive wins earlier in the season, but needs a truckload of luck from the wide gate (13). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

1:35 p.m. R3 5 Dancarina (5 m Sebring – Dance for Me) – Warren Kennedy; she sustained a strong gallop for a close up second in a trial on 23 January at Taupo, and resumes in the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. While she was impressive when winning previously, but is another who requires luck from a difficult alley (13). Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.50.

1:35 p.m. R3 16 Zantabulous (4 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Vinnie Colgan; she quickened for a close second in a trial on 23 January at Taupo, and resumes in the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Impressive winning twice to 1400 metres with give in the ground, she appears capable of a bold run if she makes the field (currently second on the ballot). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40. 

Three time trans-Tasman Group 1 winner Gingernuts will proudly lead out the field for Race 4 - the Group 2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies' Classic as one of the Legends being celebrated on the day.

2:10 p.m. R4 11 Inspired By Art (3 f So You Think – La Bella Delicia) – Opie Bosson; she worked forward outside the leader when finishing second in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 2 January at Tauranga, and charged late to win the Maiden 1600 metres on 24 January at Matamata. Contesting the $175,000 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m), she does step up in class however she should be suited by the increased distance and has shown the ability to match them - but again is another who needs things to go her way from a tricky gate (10). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80. 

2:53 p.m. R5 8 Devoted (6 g Contributer – Mapmaker) – Jess Allen (a3); he finished midfield in the Rating 75 2200 metres on 21 January at Pukekohe, and contests the $65,000 Rating 75 2100 metres. Has will enjoy weight relief to 53kg, is drawn (3) to receive economical trip, and is a chance on recent efforts, in solid racing fettle. Fixed odds: $31.00 & $6.50. 

3:28 p.m. R6 8 Campionessa (6 m Contributer – Bella Carolina) – Opie Bosson; she raced clear to win the Cal Isuzu Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m) here on 16 December, and richly deserved her victory in  the Zabeel Classic (Gr. 1, 2050m) on Boxing Day at Pukekohe. Unsuited by the off track in the Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 20 January at Trentham, she looked good in an exhibition during the week, and presents as a top three chance in the $600,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.20. 

4:38 p.m. R8 13 Quintessa (3 f Shamus Award – Chaquinta) – Matt Cameron; she continued her good form with a close second placings in the Auckland Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, and displayed all her tenacity when winning the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 13 January at Trentham. Carrying minimum weight (53.5kg) in the weight-for-age $400,000 BCD Group Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m), she looked good in exhibition during the week, and does possess the wherewithal to match, and defeat,  the best here. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.40. 

5:12 p.m. R9 11 Caravella (4 m Caravaggio – Highland Lights) – Vinnie Colgan; she picked up very well for second after being buffeted in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 21 January at Pukekohe, and contests the $65,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. The winner of two of her last four outings, she is also a course winner, and brings the right form to be competitive and rate a top four chance from barrier six. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80. 

5:12 p.m. R9 12 Francee (4 m Iffraaj – Calveen) – Opie Bosson; she powered home to stylishly to win the Rating 65 1400 metres on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, and did well from back in field when running the fastest last 600m (33.9) to grab third in the Rating 75 1500 metres on 14 January at Ellerslie. Blinkers oare n in the $65,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, and her dam impressed when winning here. She is a 'must include' from barrier one for first four devotees.  Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.  

Riccarton:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: out 7 metres. 8mls rain forecast later on Saturday. 

12:10 p.m. R1 5 Beau Brummell (3 g Embellish – Fashion Forward) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he did well off an interrupted passage when running the fastest last 600m (35.1) for fourth in the Maiden 1600 metres here on 18 January, and contests the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres. He is well positioned to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75. 

12:44 p.m. R2 3 Plenty O’ Style (3 g Embellish – Opulent) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he did well off a three wide trip when finishing third in the Maiden 1600 metres here on 18 January, and contests the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres. Drawn well (5) he can certainly pay a dividend in the second race on the programme. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90. 

1:18 p.m. R3 11 Lady Of Court (3 f Savabeel – Are There Any) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she race her race out strongly when fourth off a wide trip, after drawing the outside (12), in the Maiden 1200 metres on 24 January at Matamata, and contests the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres. She has the credentials to finish in the top three, jumping from barrier six. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.

1:52 p.m. R4 1 Quintefeuille (2 g Xtravagant – Quintette) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he debuted with a close second placing at New Plymouth on 27 December. After leading, he was runner up to stable-mate and subsequent Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) runner-up Damask Rose (Savabeel), and contests the $40,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO 1000 metres. He is a Te Akau homebred by dual Group One winner Xtravagant (Pentire) out of Quintette (Alamosa), who herself was stakes' placed at Riccarton, and appears a solid winning chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $1.05. 

3:00 p.m. R6 10 Superbly Written (3 f Written Tycoon – Supara) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she tracked the  leaders home when resuming with a fourth placing in the 3YO 1200 metres on 23 December at Trentham, and ran the fastest last 600m on the day (31.9) for second to stable-mate Angels Wings (Heroic Valour) in the Rating 65 1100 metres here on 27 January. She looks a top three chance but will need things to go her way from the wide draw (13) in the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.65. 

3:35 p.m. R7 3 Millefiori (5 m Iffraaj – Miss Bluebell) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she finished back following a really tough trip in the Timaru Stakes (Listed, 1400m) here on 27 January. She did well to finish fourth to stable-mate Kai (Ocean Park) in the Hazlett Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on Boxing Day at Wingatui, and has opportunity here to bounce back from barrier two in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1100 metres. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

4:11 p.m. R8 6 Fellini (4 g Belardo – Silke Top) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he finished back after being widest throughout in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 27 January, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. A cconsistent performer generally, he is stakes' placed, and is presented with the opportunity to bounce back if he can secure some luck from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20.