Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has ten horses racing on Saturday 27 October: Ellerslie, Trentham, and Riccarton - with horses contesting stakes' races at all three venues

Ellerslie:

As on Friday 26 October the conditions were: cloudy and Dead5, rail out 9.5 metres. Showers forecast Saturday afternoon.

1.03 p.m. R2 8 Sizzler (2 f Sizzling - O'Raghailligh) - Danielle Johnson; debuts in the $22,500 2YO 880 metres. She has displayed a good action and plenty of natural talent in two trials: finding the line for third in August at Te Teko, and winning after coursing wide on 2 October at Cambridge, ridden in each by Opie Bosson. While difficult to assess the trial form in a field of 11 debutantes, she has a quality pedigree and certainly appeared to exude that when trialling.

3.24 p.m. R6 11 Queen Of The Air (3 f I Am Invincible - Flying Single) - Opie Bosson; became a contender for the $70,000 Partners Life Soliloquy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) after trouncing her rivals in track record time (1:09.6) on 4 October in the Maiden 1200 metres at Waverley. Winning by nearly four lengths, it really was a sterling gallop as she broke the track record. Immediately up in class, against a pretty strong field, she has always shown plenty of ability, warrants respect and is right in the market. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.80.

Trentham:

As on Friday 26 October the conditions were: overcast and Dead5, rail true. 5mls rain forecast Saturday afternoon.

12.17 p.m. R1 4 Total Excess (3 g Delago Deluxe - Avail) - Jason Waddell; spelled following a terrific debut win in March at Hastings, Maiden 2YO 1200 metres, and galloped home strongly for second when trialling on 18 October at Waipa. Resuming from barrier one in the $30,000 3YO 1200 metres, he is a beautifully balanced athlete and should acquit himself very well. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.20.

2.02 p.m. R4 10 Xplosion (2 f Showcasing - Xpress) - Lisa Allpress; finished strongly for third, once balanced in the straight, to race rivals The Tailor's Niece (Showcasing) and Media (Charm Spirit) when debuting in the NZB Pearl Series 2YO 1000 metres on 11 October at Waverley. The year younger sister of Xpression, who won the Wakefield Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) on this course, she has blinkers on and further improvement would make her competitive in the $50,000 Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1000m). Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.00.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 26 October the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 8 to 10 metres. No rain forecast.

12.40 p.m. R1 3 Wide Awake (5 g Savabeel - Kay's Awake) - Shafiq Rusof; settled at the rear off a wide gate and made good ground for fourth in a tight finish to the Rating 72 1600 metres on 9 October at Riccarton, having resumed here a fortnight earlier with a notable fourth in the Rating 72 1400 metres. A winner of the Woodville Cup (2100m), drawn barrier four in the $25,000 Rating 72 1800 metres, the blinkers go on and this should make him a genuine threat. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.40.

1.15 p.m. R2 1 Challa (2 c Dissident - Are There Any) - Shafiq Rusof; debuted here on 9 October with a very good performance for second (half-neck) to stable-mate Puysegur (Fastnet Rock) in the 2YO 800 metres, and contests the corresponding NZB Insurance Pearl Series race. From barrier five, he shapes as genuine contender for top-end spoils.

1.50 p.m. R3 2 Remington (4 g Darci Brahma - Kudamm) - Shafiq Rusof; made it two wins and three seconds from five starts with a fresh-up victory in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 22 September at Riccarton, and lost no admirers when second to classy filly The Precious One (Darci Brahma) in the Rating 72 1200 metres here on 9 October. Drawn barrier one in the $25,000 Rating 72 1200 metres, he must rate a top three chance again. Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.10.

2.24 p.m. R4 6 Conclusion (5 g Fully Fledged - Every Reason) - Jason Laking; was given time (35 days) after a fourth and ninth here over sprint trips and contests the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. From a wide draw (16), he would likely be patiently ridden and look for a nice drag into proceedings.

3.33 p.m. R6 2 In A Twinkling (3 g Fastnet Rock - Moment in Time) - Shafiq Rusof; produced a big effort fresh-up to beat a competitive field in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 12 September at Matamata, and suffered an interrupted passage back in the field when finishing seventh here on 9 October in the Rating 65 1400 metres. Up in class to contest the $50,000 Zacinto Stakes (Listed, 1600m), he seems capable of a bold performance with luck from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.50.

4.08 p.m. R7 9 Swing Note (4 m Encosta De Lago - Andallthatjazz) - Shafiq Rusof; blotted the copybook after being two from two, both by big margins, in this campaign when unsuited by downgrading track conditions to Heavy10 in the Rating 82 1600 metres on 12 October at Timaru. Ideally drawn (5) in the $50,000 Christchurch Casino Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m), she has the quality to turn her form around on better going. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.65.