Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses racing on Saturday 23 December: Te Rapa, and Awapuni.

Te Rapa:

As on Friday 22 December the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail true. 1ml rain forecast Friday, partly cloudy race day.

4.04 p.m. R7 1 Griffin (3 g Iffraaj - Double Elle) - Opie Bosson; won his only start at two, resumed in September with a solid fifth in the El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m), followed by a close fourth in the Sacred Falls Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m), both at Hastings. Freshened after contesting the Sarten Memorial (Gr. 2, 1400m) here in October, he resumes off 61 days in the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. A patient ride is planned from barrier four. He should be attacking the line and has the quality to threaten before stepping up in distance.

Awapuni:

As on Friday 22 December the conditions were: overcast and Dead5, rail out 1 metre. No rain forecast.

2.00 p.m. R3 6 Sword of Osman (2 g Savabeel - Bunyah) - Michael McNab; debuts from barrier five in the $20,000 2YO 1100 metres, and although without a trial he has pleased trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards in training. A half-brother to stakes placed debutante Fortaleza (Darci Brahma) and talented galloper Arundel (Duke of Marmalade), a bold performance would not surprise.

4.20 p.m. R7 4 Splurge (5 g Savabeel - Splashing Out) - Michael McNab; looked the winner before being bombed on the line in the Eagle Technology Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 2 December at Ellerslie, with McNab aboard, and ideally drawn (2) to receive another favourable trip in the weight-for-age $100,000 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m). He has continued to train very well and rightfully dominates betting in this field. Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.10.