Te Akau NZ Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing lines up horses at three New Zealand venues tomorrow - enjoy our preview!

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses entered for the nine-race card at Ellerslie, one during the nine-race premier programme at Trentham, and four on the thirteen-race card at Riccarton, Saturday October 25.

Ellerslie:
As on Friday October 24 the conditions were: showery and Dead4, rail out 10 metres.

1.35 p.m. R2 6 Windborne (2 f Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby) - Cameron Lammas; is a sister to Darci's Dream, below, and makes her debut from barrier three in the 2YO 880 metres. She showed to be a natural running filly when winning her first trial on Aug. 26 at Te Teko. In her second and most recent trial, with this rider aboard, she got home in hand for second in the fastest of the 650-metre heats at Te Awamutu. Her lead up is hard to fault and she presents as a nice package.

3.22 p.m. R5 8 King's Rock (4 g Fastnet Rock - Nureyev's Girl) - Leith Innes; has worked through the line solidly in each of three starts this time in and steps up in distance to contest the Rating 65 2400 metres. With a senior rider engaged, any give in the ground would work to his advantage and able to negotiate a reasonable passage from a wide draw can see him competitive in an even field.

5.42 p.m. R9 13 No Tricks (3 f Savabeel - Mezaire) - Michael Coleman; following a good third on debut third, she was let find her feet and proved a class above her rivals when winning the Maiden 1300 metres by 3.3 lengths on Oct. 8 at Taupo. A filly that has always shown trainer Jason Bridgman a good amount of ability, she faces a stiffer assignment up in grade, and from a wide gate, but has the talent to cope.

Trentham:
As on Friday October 24 the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 3 metres in back straight and true for the remainder.

12.40 p.m. R1 3 Rockfast (3 c Fastnet Rock - Gypsy Princess) - Hayden Tinsley; raced away, following a patient ride, to win by three lengths when resuming over 1200 metres at Te Rapa, and after being smartly away in the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) he worked home from a handy position for sixth. With a plan to ride quietly from the outside barrier in a small field of six, he indicated in the manner of his first up win an ability to test his rivals here.

Riccarton:
As on Friday October 24 the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 9 metres to the 1000m and 11 metres for the remainder.

2.00 p.m. R5 5 Darci's Dream (3 f Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby) - David Walsh; came from seventh and sustained a sprint from the 300 metres to dash clear of her rivals in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) here on Sept. 20. Stabled since with other Te Akau horses on course at Riccarton, she has continued to thrive and looks to make it a hat-trick when contesting the Ray Coupland Stakes (Listed, 1400m). A robust filly that displays all the right attributes, drawing barrier three should enable her to give a very good account - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

2.00 p.m. R5 6 Flaming (3 f Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - Matt Cameron; drew the outside barrier resuming in the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Sept. 20 at Hastings, before dashing through the pack from second last to finish runner-up to Group one winner O'Marilyn (O'Reilly). She impressed winning over 1200 metres towards the end of her two-year-old campaign and should be ready to pounce following a decent trip from barrier seven.

Trainer Jason Bridgman prepared Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) to win the corresponding race last year, Abidewithme (Redoute's Choice) (2012) and King's Rose (Redoute's Choice) (2010), while Te Akau has also won the race with Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) (2006), Sea Saint (Orpen) (2005) and King's Chapel (King of Kings) (2003).

3.47 p.m. R8 11 Wolfwhistle (4 h O'Reilly - Legs) - Matt Cameron; circled effortlessly from off the pace and showed good stretch in winning the Rating 75 2000 metres on Oct. 4 at Hastings, and steps up in class to contest the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m). Ensured an economical trip from barrier one, he receives an ideal opportunity at stakes' level and based on recent form he appears a genuine chance.

6.36 p.m. R13 7 Bronte Lass (6 m Stravinsky - Little Dorritt) - Matt Cameron; had her chances extinguished when stumbling out of the gates, resuming here on Sept. 20 and has been given a chance to put that behind her while being stabled on course. She meets a solid field in the Rating 75 1600 metres, should receive a decent trip from barrier six and be looking to work home strongly.