Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has nine horses racing on Saturday 28 October at three venues: Ellerslie, Trentham and Riccarton.

Ellerslie:

As on Friday 27 October the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 10.5 metres. 5mls rain forecast Friday, 1.5mls race day.

1.03 p.m. R2 1 Al Hasa (2 c Exceed and Excel - Oasis Rose) - Cameron Lammas; makes his debut in the $22,500 2YO 880 metres, having shown to be professional and exuded a good action when finishing first and second respectively in two trials. From an immensely talented filly Oasis Rose (Oasis Dream), a winner on debut over 1200 metres and finished second in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), he appears ideally placed to force the issue in a small field.

3.23 p.m. R6 5 Vinevale (5 m Flying Spur - Eden Valley) - Cameron Lammas; was late getting clear before closing the gap solidly for third to race rival Save The Date (Savabeel) when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 6 October at Te Rapa, and steps up in the $25,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. A talented mare that has impressed winning from 1200m to 1500m, she has not been too far away in two starts here previously and should receive an ideal run from barrier two. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.70.

Trentham:

As on Friday 27 October the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail out 5 metres in back straight and otherwise true. Showers forecast Friday.

2.02 p.m. R3 5 Queen Of The Air (2 f I Am Invincible - Flying Single) - Danielle Johnson; staged a top performance for second on debut, closing in on race rival Masque (Savabeel) in the 2YO 800 metres on 24 September at Pukekohe, after being slow away. With gear changes that include blinkers and a tongue tie, she contests the $50,000 Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1000m). She has a good attitude, looks classy and should prove very competitive from barrier one. Fixed odds: $2.90 & $1.15.

4.19 p.m. R7 10 Beaumarchais (4 g Savabeel - Almaviva) - Danielle Johnson; ran the fastest final 600m (35.0) for third behind subsequent winning stable-mate Royal Success (Savabeel) in the Rating 85 1400 metres on 4 October at Ruakaka, and steps up a notch to contest the $70,000 Thompson Handicap (Gr. 3, 1600m). The winner of two races, both over 1400 metres, he produced a slashing performance for fourth to stable-mate Gingernuts (Iffraaj) in the New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), before a close second in the Manawatu Classic (Gr. 3, 2000m) to end his three-year-old season. Weighted on the minimum (53kgs), he is also ideally drawn in barrier two and rates an each way chance. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.25.

4.54 p.m. R8 11 Embellish (3 c Savabeel - Bling) - Opie Bosson; recorded a stylish win at his second race day outing, fresh-up on 4 October in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres at Ruakaka, with Bosson aboard, in a performance that currently sees him second favourite ($7.00) behind stable-mate Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) at $5.00 for the $500,000 Al Basti Equiworld 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 11 November at Riccarton. In the interim, he contests the $22,500 Rating 65 1400 metres and despite being drawn a touch wide (10) he appears a very good chance of making it two in a row.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 27 October the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 7.5 metres. No rain forecast.

1.15 p.m. R2 3 Avantage (2 f Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Sam Weatherley (a1); won impressively here on debut in the 2YO 800 metres on 7 October, having exuded class at the trials, and contests the $22,500 NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO 800 metres where she is also eligible for the $8,000 bonus. Drawn barrier two, with side winkers and a tongue tie added to her gear, she appears a very good chance for the premiership winning apprentice.

1.50 p.m. R3 9 Lady Amadeus (4 m Medaglia D'oro - Rialto Bridge) - Sam Weatherley (a1); won in no uncertain terms when fresh-up in the Maiden 1200 metres on 13 October at Timaru, giving jockey Samantha Collett her 500th win in the process. Drawn barrier eight in the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres, she previously had good form in the North and appears capable of making her presence felt immediately in the next grade.

3.33 p.m. R6 10 Swing Note (3 f Encosta De Lago - Andallthatjazz) - Sam Weatherley (a1); broke through for a deserved and polished win here on 7 October in the Maiden 1400 metres, and steps up in class for the $70,000 Zacinto Stakes (Listed, 1600m). With a tongue tie on and handily drawn in barrier five, she should receive an ideal passage just off the pace and another strong performance would be no surprise. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.40.

4.08 p.m. R7 10 Grazia (5 m Savabeel - Trocair) - Sam Weatherley (a1); ran the fastest final 600m (34.5) when beaten a nose in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 7 October, having resumed with a close fifth to stable-mate Imperium (Encosta De Lago) on the same course in September. Campaigning with the $50,000 Christchurch Casino Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) in mind, she comes in with minimum weight (53kgs) and stepping up in distance works in her favour. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.90.