Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Saturday 19 October: Rotorua, and Ashburton.

Rotorua:

Weather: cloudy, track: Slow9, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Saturday morning.

12.23 p.m. R1 1 Equinox  (3 c Exceed and Excel - Our Ella Belle) - Opie Bosson; scratched off Heavy10 last Saturday at Matamata, and contests the $25,000 3YO 1215 metres. Given time (49 days) since finishing second to Catalyst (Darci Brahma) in the El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m) at Hastings, with a strong third at the trials in between, he would prefer better footing but won twice last season and has the quality to prove competitive if appreciative of the going. Fixed odds: $1.50 & $1.10.

Ashburton:

Weather: drizzling, track: Dead6, rail: true. 15mls rain forecast Friday and no rain Saturday.

1.15 p.m. R3 1 Al Haram  (7 g Sea the Stars - En Public) - Michael McNab; fought solidly when having his first southern start in the North Canterbury Cup (Open, 2000m) on 5 October at Riccarton, and contests the $30,000 Rating 82 2200 metres. He did very well to finish third off a tough trip in the Ruakaka Cup (Open, 2200m) at his previous start, won prior to that on Heavy10 at Matamata, and rates an each way chance if appreciative of the course at his first attempt. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.30.

1.50 p.m. R4 13 Xplosion  (3 f Showcasing - Xpress) - Michael McNab; fought hard for third when resuming here in the Maiden 3YO 1250 metres on 30 August, handled a stiffer assignment for fifth in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200 metres) and third most recently in the Maiden 1400 metres on 5 October at Riccarton. Ideally drawn (5) in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres, ground remaining in reasonable order would assist. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

4.09 p.m. R8 6 Folk Dress  (3 f Pierro - Gypsy Chimes) - Michael McNab; won a trial here on 9 September, went pretty well when resuming in the Rating 72 1200 metres on 5 October, and reverts back to more suitable age group racing in the $70,000 Barneswood Farm Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m). Ideally drawn (5) in a race Te Akau has won six times, she raced very well last season and able to recapture that form would make her competitive. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25.

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