Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses entered for the nine-race programme on Saturday Jan. 4 at Thames.

As on Friday Jan. 3 the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail true.

12:50pm R1 7 The Musician (3 g Minstrel Court - Carrots) - Matt Cameron; trialled nicely off a let-up and resumes from a 72-day break, having had one race day start over 1200 metres in October at Hastings. From barrier seven, the plan is to track an expected torrid pace in the Maiden 1000 metres. From an unraced Ishiguru mare, his grand-dam, Greensleeves (Green Perfume) raced well fresh up over 1200 metres in winning six times and further back Snuff (Deputy Governor) showed plenty of ability in winning ten races before becoming a good producer.

2:00pm R3 10 Speeding (3 f Volksraad - Rapida) - Matt Cameron; did a good job on debut working home in tight quarters for second on Dec. 12 in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres at Hastings. As a staying type of filly, she steps up to 1700 metres and looks likely to start a worthy favourite from barrier four. She is a sister to stakes winner Gin Dartre and half-sister to Courtney (Montjeu) and Smokin' Gun (High Chaparral), and also has 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winners Dorabella (Postponed) and Insouciant (Keeper) featuring in her family.

5:31pm R9 7 Alchemy's Flight (3 f Darci Brahma - Eloa) - Matt Cameron; over-raced when resuming a week ago in the Benchmark 65 1200 metres on Dec. 28 at Ellerslie. Fitted with a nose band for the corresponding race, she should receive a favourable trip from barrier five and has the ability to force the issue in this field providing she does things right.