Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses racing at two venues on Saturday 20 February.

Ellerslie:

As on race morning the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail out 7 metres. There is no further rain forecast.

1.42 p.m. R3 7 Smashing (4 m Pins - Ruud Van Slaats) - Cameron Lammas; crossed to lead and won effortlessly in the $25,000 Rating 85 1200 metres on 30 January at Trentham, with this rider aboard, and carrying half a kilo more (56kgs) she contests the corresponding event. She meets a stronger field, but ran a solid fifth in the $60,000 Hallmark Stud Handicap (Listed, 1200m) here on Boxing Day and brings the right form to be very competitive.

4.38 p.m. R8 7 Zambezi Warrior (3 g Pentire - Zambezi) - Michael McNab; was checked out of contention mid straight before balancing up and dashing into third here behind Provocative (Zabeel) in the $20,000 Rating 65 2100 metres on February 4 and contests the corresponding event from barrier four. Prior, he powered home to win easily on 15 January in the Maiden 1600 metres at Matamata. Fifth on the ballot and unlikely to gain a start in the $100,000 Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m) - race 7 @ 4.30 p.m. - he meets a strong field that includes other balloted runners from the Guineas. His recent performances have been super and he rates a genuine each way chance.

New Plymouth:

As on race morning the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail out 4.5 metres. There is no further rain forecast.

3.47 p.m. R6 1 Silverdale (6 g Castledale - Elianto) - Darryl Bradley; loomed from the back with a top effort for fourth in the $30,000 Open 1600 metres, run in blistering time (1:33.2), on 30 January at Matamata, having made ground from last behind Hasselhoof (Tavistock) on January 1 in the $100,000 Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) at Ellerslie. An unlucky fifth to Kawi (Savabeel) in the $80,000 Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 1800m) last year, he is the highest rated for this rendition and despite carrying 60kgs can still prove an each way chance.

4.22 p.m. R7 2 Special Memories (3 f Fastnet Rock - Memories of You) - Dylan Turner; was never clear on 30 January in the $22,500 Rating 75 1600 metres at Matamata, following a solid performance for fourth when resuming off 67 days in the Rating 75 1400 metres at Te Rapa. She produced a tough effort for fourth to stable-mate Risque (Darci Brahma) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) during cup week at Riccarton, won a Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on this course, and both the barrier draw (3) and step up in distance should be beneficial in a very even field for the $50,000 Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m).

4.57 p.m. R8 15 Bishop Rock (3 c Fastnet Rock - Festival Princess) - Dylan Turner; staged a big run from back in the field for second in the Rating 65 2000 metres on 3 February at Hastings, and has blinkers on for the $20,000 Rating 65 2000 metres. He recorded a dominant win, first time in blinkers, over a mile in October at Ashburton, ran a solid fourth here over 1400 metres at his only course attempt and although facing a slightly stronger field than last time he rates a top four chance.