Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Saturday 23 March: Tauranga, and Rosehill (Sydney).

Tauranga:

As on Friday 22 March the conditions were: cloudy and Dead4, rail true. Showers forecast Saturday.

1.48 p.m. R3 5 Together (4 m Ocean Park - More to Love) - Michael McNab; made a
lot of ground from well back in the Rating 72 1200 metres here on 6 February,
and again made good inroads over the final 200m to grab second in the Rating 72
1400 metres a fortnight ago at Ellerslie. Increasing distance seems ideal in
the $25,000 Rating 72 1600 metres and she rates a top three chance in a small
but select field. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.65.

2.23 p.m. R4 9 Lady Zeraph (4 m Makfi - Zatiger) -
Donavan Mansour; sustained a good gallop off a wide trip when trialling on 12
March at Avondale, and resumes in the $25,000 Rating 72 1200 metres. A staying
mare of promise, the trip could be too sharp in a field of this quality but
working solidly through the line would be ideal. Fixed odds: $21.00 &
$4.20.

3.35 p.m. R6 4 Wide Awake (5 g Savabeel - Kay's Awake)
- Michael McNab; started his campaign with a trip away, contesting the Poverty
Bay Cup (Rating 82 1600 metres) and Wairoa Cup Trial (Open 1900 metres) a week
apart. Given time (30 days), he is ideally drawn (4) in the $30,000 Rating 82
2100 metres. He finished second over 1600m at his only course attempt, has won
at the distance, and a top five finish in this field would be encouraging.
Fixed odds: $26.00 & $5.50.

Rosehill Gardens:

As on Friday 22 March the conditions were: overcast and Heavy8, rail out 3 metres. Showers forecast and 23 - 25 degree temperatures Friday & Saturday.

2.30 p.m. (NZ time) R1 3 Avantage (3 f Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Opie Bosson; was crowned
Champion Two-Year-Old, having won five of her six starts, including the $1m
Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) and Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m). Spelled
after winning the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) in September at Hastings,
and following two very good trials for a second and first, respectively, both
at Avondale, she resumes in the $160,000 TAB Birthday Card Stakes (Gr. 3,
1200m). Any improvement in track conditions would be an assist, but she has
shown to handle a range of footing and her class is undoubted. NZ TAB fixed odds:
$4.40 & $1.80.

Racenet comment: AVANTAGE has won six from seven in New Zealand and a Group I
winner of the Sires Produce. Hasn't raced for 26-weeks but has the class to win
at Australian debut if ready to go. Fixed odds: $4.60.

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