Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing on Saturday 31 August: Ruakaka, and Hastings.

Ruakaka:

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: out 2.5 metres. No rain forecast.

2.19 p.m. R5 1 In A Twinkling (4 g Fastnet Rock -
Moment in Time) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); resumes in the $30,000 Rating 82 1400
metres, with weight relief to 59kgs. A winner that finished second in the
Zacinto Stakes (Listed, 1600m), Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), and fourth in
the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), he was beaten a nostril in the NZ Derby (Gr.
1, 2400m) before a fifth in both the Tulloch Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) at Rosehill,
and ATC Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) at Randwick. With two preparatory trials under his
belt, he has the ability to race well fresh before stepping up in distance.
Fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.20.

2.54 p.m. R6 3 Avantage (4 m Fastnet Rock - Asavant) -
Sam Weatherley; is the winner of seven from nine, resuming in the $35,000 Open
1200 metres. Victorious in a Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) and
Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), named Champion Two-Year-Old, she spelled
in April after winning the Birthday Card Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) at Rosehill, and
finishing third in the $1m Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (Gr. 2, 1200m) at Randwick.
She is both very classy and competitive. Fixed odds: $1.90 & $1.20.

3.29 p.m. R7 7 Byzantine (4 g Savabeel - Baradevi) -
Cameron Lammas; a stakes performed winning two-year-old that freshened
following a dominant win in May at Pukekohe, he trialled twice recently, and
resumes in the $25,000 Rating 72 1200 metres. Likely to get back from a wide
draw (11), he has the attributes to finish strongly if appreciative of the
course at his first attempt. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.70.

3.29 p.m. R7 9 Meteoric Lass (5 m Stratum - Benatar) - Sam Weatherley; trialled very well on two occasions and resumes in the $25,000 Rating 72 1200 metres. The winner of two from five, she spelled in December after finishing second in a smart Rating 72 1200-metre field at Ellerslie, and rates an each way chance from barrier four. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.80.

Hastings:

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. Afternoon showers forecast Friday, fine Saturday.

2.00 p.m. R5 1 Equinox (3 c Exceed and Excel - Our
Ella Belle) - Jonathan Riddell; has looked good in two preparatory trials and
resumes in the $50,000 El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m). He
continued to grow in stature when winning two from four as a two-year-old,
likely to get back from a wide draw (10) but could hit the line better than
most given a genuine tempo. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80.

4.20 p.m. R9 11 Melody Belle (5 m Commands - Meleka
Belle) - Michael McNab; overcame a wide draw before finishing fourth fresh-up
in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) a fortnight ago at Te Rapa, and contests
the $200,000 Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m). She won the race last year amongst
five Group One victories during the season, is unbeaten in two starts on the
course, and warrants plenty of respect despite drawing wide (15). Fixed odds: $5.00 &
$2.00.

5.00 p.m. R10 7 Burgundy
Belle (4 m Burgundy - Spin ‘N Grin) - Michael McNab; freshened
following a third in the 3YO 1300 metres in June at Tauranga, and held together
for fourth when trialling over 900 metres on 29 July at Te Rapa. Impressive
winning three from seven, and three thirds, she has the class to rate a top
four chance in the $25,000 Rating 72 1300 metres. Fixed odds: $4.80 &
$1.95.

Back