Te Akau NZ Taranaki Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses entered for the seven-race programme on Monday Dec. 23 at New Plymouth.

As on Saturday Dec. 21 the conditions were: overcast and Good3, rail true.

4:00pm R2 1 Pride and Passion (5 m Encosta De Lago - Calaway Gal) - Matt Cameron; resumes from a 154-day break, in foal to Burgundy (Redoute's Choice). She let down in good fashion winning a trial on Dec. 13 over 950 metres at Cambridge, and appears ideally placed to threaten this field from barrier two in the Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres.

5:46pm R5 1 Peerage (4 g O'Reilly - Chimeara) - Matt Cameron; strode freely in front and continued a strong gallop when second to Show The World (High Chaparral), who subsequently finished second on the Championship Prelude (Listed, 2100m) at Ellerslie, on Dec. 2 in the Maiden 1600 metres at Te Aroha. Having also finished second on debut over 1400 metres at Hastings, he now steps up to 1800 metres and clearly looks the one to beat.

6:16pm R6 5 Stanica Star (7 g Danzero - Stanica) - Mick Dee (a2); circled from last in a field of eleven when winning here on Nov. 22 in the Benchmark 75 1600 metres and returns to the same venue 31-days later to contest the Benchmark 85 1800 metres. With the same rider aboard, in a small field of seven, he again presents as a top chance based on his work and liking for the course - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

6:16pm R6 6 Secret Whisper (5 g Align - Danewhisper) - Matt Cameron; got into a nice position from an awkward draw and while no threat to the winner he was not far away on Dec. 11 in Benchmark 75 1600 metres at Ellerslie. Trainer Jason Bridgman is also eyeing the Benchmark 75 1600 metres at this venue on Dec. 27, being in his rightful grade and with the prospect of some moisture in the ground to assist.