Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing on Saturday 17 November: Riccarton, and Tauranga.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 16 November the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 3 metres 1000m - 700m, remainder true. 2.5mls rain forecast Saturday morning, otherwise fine.

12.15 p.m. R2 10 Wide Awake (5 g Savabeel - Kay's Awake) - Shafiq Rusof; was tightened for room when looking to make a run mid-straight here last Saturday in the Rating 82 2000 metres and contests the $40,000 Rating 82 1800 metres. Given a lovely ride by Shafiq to win the Rating 72 1800 metres here two starts ago, improved footing will help and he rates an each way chance. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.60.

2.00 p.m. R5 1 Challa (2 c Dissident - Are There Any) - Shafiq Rusof; has been hard to fault, finishing second in each of two starts on the course over 800 metres. Drawn barrier six in the $50,000 Barneswood Farm Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m), he meets the filly (Miss Federer) that edged away from him last time but remains a solid chance of becoming the seventh Welcome Stakes' winner for Te Akau. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.35.

2.35 p.m. R6 4 Conclusion (5 g Fully Fledged - Every Reason) - Jason Laking; produced a formidable performance for second here in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 27 October, and looked ready for the next grade when winning authoritatively in the corresponding event here last Saturday, with Laking aboard. He requires luck from a wide draw (16) in the $40,000 Rating 72 1200 metres, but warrants respect in this field. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.60.

4.20 p.m. R9 14 Richard of Yorke (7 g Oasis Dream - Cascata) - Shafiq Rusof; fought on from a handy position in the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2500m) here last Saturday and steps up in the $250,000 Christchurch Casino 155^th New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m). A winner over 2400 metres at Royal Ascot, Sandown, and Randwick, he carries minimum weight (53kgs) and could improve on his first day effort if able to switch off in the run. Fixed odds: $31.00 & $7.00.

5.35 p.m. R11 14 Miss Scandinavia (4 m Smart Missile - Miss Helsinki) - Shafiq Rusof; was a stylish Maiden winner here fresh-up over 1200 metres in September, stepped up immediately with a strong second in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 12 October at Timaru, and solid again when third in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 4 November at Motukarara. Ideally drawn (4) in the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, she appears a solid each way proposition.

Tauranga:

As on Friday 16 November the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 2.5 metres. No rain forecast.

1.40 p.m. R3 3 Beaumarchais (5 g Savabeel - Almaviva) - Opie Bosson; picked up nicely in the straight when trialling in September at Te Teko, and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 82 1200 metres. Fourth in the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) to stable-mate Gingernuts (Iffraaj) as a three-year-old, he has been patiently handled and while destined to get up in distance the race offers an ideal starting point. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.50.

3.29 p.m. R6 3 Embellish (4 h Savabeel - Bling) - Opie Bosson; kept finding the line for second when resuming here a fortnight ago in the Open 1300 metres. He provided Te Akau with their sixth 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner, last November at Riccarton, and spelled in March following an unlucky eighth in the $1m Australian Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Flemington. Drawn the outside of seven runners in the $35,000 Open 1400 metres, firmer going will suit and he is certainly capable of beating this field. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.25.