Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has 14 horses racing on Saturday 10 November: Riccarton and Te Rapa.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 9 November the conditions were: raining and Dead5, rail true. 13mls rain forecast Friday, no rain race day.

12.40 p.m. R2 6 Wide Awake (5 g Savabeel - Kay's Awake) - Opie Bosson; was given a lovely ride when rounding off boldly to win the Rating 72 1800 metres here a fortnight ago and steps up in the $30,000 Rating 82 2000 metres. A winner of the Woodville Cup (2100m), he rates an each way chance from barrier two in a field of 10. Fixed odds: $2.90 & $1.30.

12.40 p.m. R2 7 Richard of Yorke (7 g Oasis Dream - Cascata) - Shafiq Rusof; was eased when receiving little daylight in the straight on 20 October in Rating 82 2100 metres at Ashburton, following a solid third here, also without a lot of room, over a mile on 9 October. He appears capable of bouncing back as an each way chance in the $30,000 Rating 82 2000 metres. He is also an acceptor for race 9. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.15.

3.00 p.m. R6 2 Conclusion (5 g Fully Fledged - Every Reason) - Jason Laking; was given time (35 days) after a fourth and ninth at Riccarton, turning in a formidable performance from back in the field for second in the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres here on 27 October. He strikes a field of similar strength in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, should receive an economical trip from barrier seven, and appears an each way chance again.

3.40 p.m. R7 1 Sword of Osman (3 g Savabeel - Bunyah) - Opie Bosson; was back in winning form on Labour Day, 22 October, in the James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) at Te Rapa, running his last 600m in a slick 34.1 and looking strong after the line. The performance showed good improvement on his fifth in the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). A Group One and Group Three winning two-year-old, he comes into the $500,000 Al Basti 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) as a genuine contender - looking to provide Te Akau with their seventh winner of the prestigious race, having won last year Embellish (Savabeel), also ridden by Bosson. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.15.

3.40 p.m. R7 7 In A Twinkling (3 g Fastnet Rock - Moment in Time) - Shafiq Rusof; cemented a start in the $500,000 Al Basti 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) with a strong finish for second off a chequered passage in the Zacinto Stakes (Listed, 1600m) here on 27 October,  ridden by Shafiq. It was a performance that outlined his competitiveness at this level and he appears a realistic chance with the right trip from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $33.00 & $7.50.

3.40 p.m. R7 11 Publicist (3 c Redoute's Choice - Valadon) - Jason Laking; continued his progression with a copybook victory in the Maiden 1600 metres on 20 October at Ashburton, having found the line for third on debut over 1200 metres and finishing fourth after contesting the pace over 1400 metres, both at Riccarton. Although a substantial rise in class to contest the $500,000 Al Basti 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), he has the pedigree and quality about him to warrant his chance. Fixed odds: $51.00 & $9.50.

5.00 p.m. R9 4 Swing Note (4 m Encosta De Lago - Andallthatjazz) - Shafiq Rusof; fulfilled a nicely compiled plan with a spirited victory here a fortnight ago in the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m), ridden by Shafiq, and looks to step up in the $75,000 Redwood Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2500m). Ideally drawn (4), having created a very good affinity with this course, providing extra distance agrees with her then the class factor she possesses can see her right in the mix. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

5.00 p.m. R9 10 Richard of Yorke (7 g Oasis Dream - Cascata) - Lisa Allpress; was eased when receiving little daylight in the straight on 20 October in Rating 82 2100 metres at Ashburton, following a solid third here, also without a lot of room, over a mile on 9 October. A winner on slow and heavy ground over 2400 metres, at Royal Ascot, Sandown, and Randwick, he appears suited to the conditions of the race, coming in on the minimum (53kgs), in the $75,000 Redwood Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2500m). Fixed odds: $13.00 & $4.20.

5.40 p.m. R10 6 Unfazed (5 m Zabeel - Faze) - Opie Bosson; came from back in the field with a solid finish for second in the Rating 72 1400 metres on 20 October at Ashburton, second-up from a spell, and ideally drawn (2) to rate an each way chance in the $30,000 Rating 72 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.

5.40 p.m. R10 7 Summer Monsoon (4 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Shafiq Rusof; kept closing off the trail for third last Sunday in the Rating 72 1200 metres at Motukarara, and appears suited stepping up in the $30,000 Rating 72 1400 metres. He won fresh-up by 4 ¼ lengths on rain-affected ground over 1250 metres in August at Ashburton, was stakes' placed as a two-year-old, and capable of another solid performance with the right trip from a wide draw. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

Te Rapa:

As on Friday 9 November the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 8 metres. 5mls rain forecast overnight Friday, otherwise fine.

12.20 p.m. R1 5 Probabeel (2 f Savabeel - Far Fetched) - Leith Innes; debuts from barrier three in the $22,500 2YO 1000 metres. She looked classy when second at the trials in August at Te Teko, and impressed the rider (Opie Bosson) in winning on 18 October at the Waipa trials. From a family that continues to leave quality performers, her dam was a debut winner over 1200 metres, and she looks set to commence on a bright note.

1.30 p.m. R3 2 Fabulous Flight (4 g I Am Invincible - Court Flying) - Leith Innes; picked up strongly when challenged over the concluding stages, finishing second in the Maiden 1350 metres on 25 October at Waipukurau, after closing solidly for a fresh-up fourth on the same course a month earlier. Drawn barrier one in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres should provide every chance for him to rates an each way prospect.

4.34 p.m. R8 9 Pacific Coast (4 g Snitzel - Malibu Road) - Nik Bakar (a4); was a comprehensive second-up winner over 1200 metres on 19 October at Tauranga, with Bakar aboard, before finishing seventh when up in grade for the Rating 72 1150 metres on the 31 October at Waipa. The winner of two from six, he can produce an improved performance from barrier five in the $25,000 Rating 72 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50.

4.34 p.m. R8 14 Meteoric Lass (4 m Stratum - Benatar) - Leith Innes; made it two wins from two starts when resuming with victory in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 10 October at Taupo, a race in which stable-mate Motivation (Mastercraftsman) finished second in a fast last 600m (34.2). Up in grade for the $25,000 Rating 72 1200 metres, she has the credentials to prove competitive but requires luck from the outside gate (14). Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.70.

4.34 p.m. R8 15 Tiffany's Time (5 m Alamosa - Tinsel Time) - Chelsea Burdan (a4); resumed with a notable effort for fourth in the Rating 72 1200 metres on 4 October at Waverley, before remaining rearward in a hotly contested Rating 72 1200 metres on 26 October at Pukekohe. Twice a winner over 1400 metres, a soft trip from barrier one would be ideal but she requires a scratching to make the field in the $25,000 Rating 72 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $35.00 & $8.50.