Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses racing on Saturday 16 December: Te Rapa, and Awapuni.

Te Rapa:

As on Friday 15 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true. No rain forecast.

12.48 p.m. R2 5 Dublin Rose (2 f O'Reilly - Irish Dream) - Cameron Lammas; announced herself at the trials, running time and winning easily, before a good debut second to dual winner and stakes placed Espumoso (Pins) on 18 October in the 2YO 1000 metres at Te Aroha. Freshened since, she has drawn ideally in barrier three for the $30,000 2YO 1200 metres. A natural talent, her dam, Irish Dream, by Savabeel (Zabeel), won three races and sister to Tullamore and the Te Akau trained mares Grazia and Shillelagh.

3.49 p.m. R7 8 Zambezi Warrior (5 g Pentire - Zambezi) - Danielle Johnson; ran a game fifth in the Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m) three weeks ago at Pukekohe, with Johnson aboard, and contests the $100,000 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m). Included in the field are the four that finished ahead of him at Pukekohe, but assured an economical trip from barrier one boosts his prospects. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.20.

4.24 p.m. R8 2 Chambord (7 g Zabeel - Miss Montjeu) - Opie Bosson; was tremendous returning to winning form impressively on 1 December in the Levin Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Otaki, after coming from last for fourth when resuming here in the Legacy Lodge Sprint (Listed, 1200m). In the process, he clocked the fastest last 600m (32.7 and 33.6, respectively) of the day. In the $70,000 J Swap Contractors Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m), he has drawn handily but increases in weight to carry 58.5kgs (5kgs more than last time). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.

4.24 p.m. R8 10 Royal Success (5 g Savabeel - Royal Show) - Cameron Lammas; continued his fine form with a close second in the Open 1400 metres on 18 November at Tauranga, and secured the coveted one barrier in the $70,000 J Swap Contractors Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m). Five wins and three seconds from 11 starts indicate his quality, while his makeup is a mixture of talent and bravery. He delivered a win at his only course attempt and competitively weighted (54kgs). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.

Awapuni:

As on Friday 15 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 4 metres around home turn. No rain forecast.

1.10 p.m. R2 12 Nucleonic (3 f Burgundy - Mexican Rose) - Michael McNab; was bombed on the line to finish second when resuming in the 3YO 1215 metres on 21 October at Rotorua, and given time since she contests the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. A beautiful example of her sire, Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), she was an impressive debut winner, had only three starts, and appears a readymade favourite from barrier one in this field.

2.58 p.m. R5 7 Hushed (7 g Don Eduardo - Danewhisper) - Tegan Newman (a4); was swamped late when fighting hard in the Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2040m) a fortnight ago, and with the addition of visor blinkers, and weight relief to 50kgs, he contests the $35,000 Manawatu Cup Prelude (2000m). Although yet to race on this course, he has won three of his four starts at the distance. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.60.