Te Akau NZ Te Rapa Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses entered for the nine race programme on Friday 2 October at Te Rapa.

As on Thursday 1 October the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail out 12 metres.

12.58 p.m. R2 12 Interstellar (3 f Shamoline Warrior - Amathea) - Matt Cameron; dictated the pace and quickened clear for an impressive win on Sept. 18 in the Maiden Fillies and Mares 1300 metres at Taupo. Having followed a smart trial win with a top debut performance for second in the Maiden 1200 metres at Ruakaka. Although up in grade for the Rating 65 1400 metres, with the right trip from barrier nine she could make it back-to-back wins.

1.33 p.m. R3 6 Xtravagant (3 c Pentire - Axiom) - Matt Cameron; made a slightly inauspicious start to his campaign in the Northland Breeders Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Ruakaka, after impressing in April on debut as a two-year-old with a 7 ¼ length win over 1400 metres at Hastings. A return to racing left-handed is expected to improve his tractability and he should be running home strongly in what appears a smart field for the 3YO 1200 metres.

3.18 p.m. R6 5 Highly Likely (5 g High Chaparral - Starrinka) - Cameron Lammas; returns to the same venue after finishing eighth in the corresponding Rating 65 2100-metre event here 23 days ago. Blinkers have served him well previously and the addition on this occasion should see an improved performance.

3.53 p.m. R7 10 Wolfwhistle (5 g O'Reilly - Legs) - Matt Cameron; ended his previous campaign with a hat-trick of wins, including a stakes victory in the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) at Riccarton. Gelded and spelled since, he resumes off 328 days in the Open 1400 metres. Treating the race like a trial, working through the line in the right manner will be encouraging.

5.05 p.m. R9 14 Tatters (3 f Tavistock - Rattle) - Michael Coleman; knuckled down and sprinted to win the Maiden 1200 metres here on Sept. 9, with this rider aboard, and 23 days later contests the Rating 65 1200 metres. Requiring luck from the outside draw in a field of fourteen, she is a filly with good ability and should measure up.