Te Akau NZ North South Saturday Preview

26 October, 2024

Te Akau NZ North South Saturday Preview


Te Akau Racing has 15 horses entered on Saturday 26 October at Ellerslie and Riccarton. 


Ellerslie: 

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 5 metres. Overcast, some showers forecast. 

1:17 p.m. R3 1 Egyptian Queen (4 m Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a2); she was tightened for room when finishing sixth when resuming in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 20 September and finished second from a handy spot in the corresponding event on 11 October, both at Taupo. Placed here last season on Good4 in the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy over 1200m, she is twice stakes' placed, enjoys weight relief to 59.5kg and rates a top three chance in the $55,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses) - one of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $2.90 & $1.35. 

1:17 p.m. R3 6 Akenehi (4 m Fastnet Rock – Igraine) – Vinnie Colgan; she ran home fine for third given the heavy footing when trialling on 8 October at Matamata, and resumes in the $55,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses). She finished fourth or better in five starts before winning over 1400 metres last season at Matamata, is from a mare that impressed winning six times from 1400m – 2400m, so is destined for further. She is ideally drawn (3) to race well fresh-up. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.45. 

1:51 p.m. R4 8 Belle Du Monde (2 f Zoustar – Lady Cartier) – Craig Grylls; she began cleanly to push through and lead, cornered well, and stretched out nicely for second to stablemate Return To Conquer in a trial on 8 October at Matamata, also with Grylls aboard. Debuting in the $45,000 2YO 1100 metres, she hails from a classy family of stakes' winners, and certainly looks to make an impact at the business end from the strategic barrier (2). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.85.

3:00 p.m. R6 10 Court Of Appeal (4 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel) – Warren Kennedy; she recorded an encouraging victory in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses) on 13 September at Matamata, and contests the $55,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. From a staying type of family, she has placed three times to 2000 metres, brings winning form to this assignment which is always a positive, and is capable of measuring up if she can secure a decent trip from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70.

4:10 p.m. R8 11 Stonybreck (5 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Craig Grylls; he was denied room over the concluding stages when finishing fifth in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 11 October at Taupo, and is one of two stablemates to contest the $65,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. Six of of his seven career wins have come on poly-tracks, and as he does meet a strong field, he will require things to go right from his very wide gate (12). Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.00.

4:10 p.m. R8 14 Cognito (5 g So You Think – Lady Primrose) – Masa Hashizume; he ran the equal fastest last 600m (35.1) when closing late from the rear in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 12 October at Te Rapa, and likewise contests the $65,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. He drops 4.5kg in weight to carry a competitive 54kg, is a past Group 2 Wellington Guineas winner over 1499m as three-year-old, and seeks to continue improving his form. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

4:45 p.m. R9 3 Qali Al Farrasha (4 m Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Joe Doyle; the first of two stablemate to contest this event, she quickened to advantage on straightening and kept going well for close second in a trial on 8 October at Matamata, and resumes with blinkers on in the $55,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. She impressed winning over 1600 metres last season, before finishing a close second (neck) in the Group 3 Sunline Vase 2100m here on Derby Day in March, and was a game third in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks over 2400m in March at Trentham. A classy performer, the full sister to the talented stakes' winner Nucoleozor, she has the ability to act well fresh, and is Welcome positioned to make her presence felt from from barrier four. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00.

4:45 p.m. R9 6 Zantabulous (5 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Masa Hashizume; she produced a stylish win at the trials before finishing strongly from beyond midfield for fourth when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 2 October at Matamata, and she too contests the $55,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. The w inner of three races to 1600 metres, she is a very genuine performer, and shapes to race well from barrier one if she is appreciative of the StrathAyr track at her first attempt. You won'r miss her, she a highly attractive distinctive grey. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.90.


Riccarton:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy9, rail: out 6 metres to 1000m, remainder out 9 metres. Raining with 30mls  forecast Saturday. 

12:57 p.m. R3 8 Malmaison (4 g Darci Brahma – Altai Rose) – Wiremu Pinn; he made it back-to-back wins with strong performance in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 23 August at Awapuni (poly-track), and stretched out well from midfield for fourth in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 28 September. He continues as strong association with this jockey, is very consistent, and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95.

2:17 p.m. R5 1 Perfect Scenario (7 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay) – Amber Riddell (a4);father and daughter riding today for Te Akau and this senior statesman resumed with victory in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 14 September, but was then held up on inner before finishing strongly for second in the Open Handicap 1400 metres, both here at Riccarton. Contesting the $50,000 TAB Mile trial (Open Handicap, 1400m), he has an excellent course/distance record, is a dual Group Three winner over 1600 metres at weight-for-age level, has the benefit of weight relief to 59kg, and presents as  a top three chance from barrier three. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.30.

3:27 p.m. R7 1 When Stars Align (3 c Zoustar – Shenandoah) – Jonathan Riddell; father aboard this time, and this colt pressed forward from his wide draw (10) to lead a genuine pace and showed tenacity finishing third in the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes 1400m on 12 October at Ashburton, won by race rival Raziah. Contesting the Group 3 $100,000 War Decree Stakes 1600m, he brings the right form to rate be poised for a top threee finish from the handy barrier two. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.10.

4:02 p.m. R8 13 Can’t Kach Me (5 m Tavistock – Kachina) – Wiremu Pinn; she trialled well for a staying mare over a sprint trip, given also that the heavy ground was beyond her, on 8 October at Matamata, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. She deserved victory when dashing away over 2200 metres last season, has placed in two of three course attempts, and is certainly capable of proving competitive fresh-up if she secures a decent trip from wide draw (11) and she can handle the prevalent track conditions. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.70. 

4:37 p.m. R9 5 Fellini (5 g Belardo – Silke Top) – Wiremu Pinn; he continued hisexcellent run of form when driven out late to comfortably win the Ashburton Cup (Open Handicap, 1600m) on 12 October at Ashburton, and steps up as one to two stable contenders in the $80,000 Listed Sothys Spring Classic over 2000m. He won the Rating 75 1800 metres here two starts ago, is racing very well in this campaign, and looks a genuine top three finisher. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70.

4:37 p.m. R9 6 Fierce Flight (6 g Flying Artie – First Bloom) – unfixed; he got back and was unable to make ground in the North Canterbury Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m) here on 28 September. Also contesting the $80,000 Listed Sothys Spring Classic, he is the winner of six races from 1600m – 2200m, including the Listed Hawkes Bay Cup 2200m, has placed twice to 3200 metres at Group Three level, and don't underrate him as he seeks to bounce back with a solid performance and Cup Day on his radar. Fixed odds: $17.00 & $4.80. 

5:12 p.m. R10 8 Beau Brummell (4 g Embellish – Fashion Forward) – Wiremu Pinn; he had no joy contesting last two races on poly-tracks, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1800 metres. Has recorded two of three wins over 1600 metres here at Riccarton, produced notable effort for fourth in the Listed Southland Guineas 1600m last season, and this homebred lad receives his opportunity to improve but needs luck from his challenging draw (14). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.10. 

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