Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing on Saturday 2 September: Ruakaka and Hastings.

Ruakaka:

As on Friday 1 September the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail out 5 metres. 4mls rain Friday and 5mls race day.

4.08 p.m. R7 10 Its Our Showtime (5 m Showcasing - Be Inspired) - Doni Prasityou; never came off the bridle when winning a trial over 1000 metres on 1 August at Te Teko, beating stable-mates Grazia (Savabeel) and Wide Awake (Savabeel). She trialled superbly before resuming with an impressive victory in January at Pukekohe, and commences again off 203 days in the $25,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Beaten a lip at her first start on the course, in June last year, she is a lightly raced winner of two races from eight outings. Although meeting a strong field, she has the talent to threaten following a cushy run from barrier five. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.70.

4.43 p.m. R8 11 Pure Savalina (4 m Savabeel - Catalina) - Michael McNab; resumes in the $22,500 Rating 65 1400 metres, following a preparatory trial on 11 August at Avondale. Two starts ago, in January at Matamata, she was a Maiden winner over 1600 metres on Dead4 ground. Stronger since having a break, she strikes a strong field first up and with a view to stepping to middle-distances during this campaign then finding the line will be encouraging.

Hastings:

As on Friday 1 September the conditions were: drizzling and Slow8, rail true. 1.5mls forecast race day.

2.37 p.m. R5 3 Griffin (3 g Iffraaj - Double Elle) - Michael Coleman; won his only start as a two-year-old, coming from off the pace with an impressive finish on Slow7 footing at Matamata, and with the benefit of a quiet trial he resumes off 122 days in the $50,000 El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m). The well documented brother of dual Group One winning stable-mate Gingernuts (Iffraaj), a finalist for Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Stayer and Horse of the Year, he has drawn favourably in barrier two and could the handle conditions better than some in order to pose a threat. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.40.

2.37 p.m. R5 8 Summer Monsoon (3 c Stratum - Princess Narine) - Cameron Lammas; kept up a strong gallop for second, in the same heat as Griffin, above, when trialling on 1 August at Te Teko, and resumes in the $50,000 El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m). A winner over 1000 metres at Te Rapa, at his second start as a two-year-old, and second to subsequent Group One winner Summer Passage (Snitzel) in the $50,000 Matamata Slipper (Listed, 1200m), he ended his five-start campaign after contesting the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) in April at Awapuni. He possesses tactical speed to utilize barrier three and has a good affinity with the rider. Fixed odds: $12.50 & $3.70.

3.50 p.m. R7 7 Gingernuts (4 g Iffraaj - Double Elle) - Opie Bosson; swept all before him as a three-year-old, winning the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), and Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m) to earn nominations for Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Stayer and Horse of the Year. Two trials: 1 August at Te Teko, and 18 August at Taupo, over 1000m and 1100m respectively, were each noteworthy and eye-catching. Although meeting rivals better suited to the distance, he recorded his first win here as a two-year-old over 1300 metres and his ability to handle slow going and class factor should not be overlooked in the $200,000 Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m). Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.30.

5.00 p.m. R9 10 Wide Awake (4 g Savabeel - Kay's Awake) - Opie Bosson; recorded his Maiden win over a mile in March at Te Rapa, with Bosson aboard, and spelled later that month. He returned to the fray with a very good trial for third over 1000 metres on 1 August at Te Teko, and resumes in the $22,500 Rating 65 1400 metres. His multiple Group One placed dam Kay's Awake (Towkay) had a great affinity with this course and he does not lack for ability when weighing up this field.