Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses entered for the ten-race Derby Day programme at Ellerslie, and two on the seven-race card at Hastings, Saturday March 1.

Ellerslie:

As on Friday Feb. 28 the conditions were: overcast and Good3, rail true.

2:46pm R5 1 Sir Darci (3 g Darci Brahma - Dominant) - Matt Cameron; came off the back of the leaders with a stylish finish to win here on Feb. 12 in the Benchmark 65 1600 metres and contests the $50k Lindsay Mile over the same trip against his own age group. Trainer Jason Bridgman has been happy with his progress since winning and although conceding weight to a couple of the respected fillies in the race he has the right attributes for force the issue if able to secure a sweet trip.

5:16pm R9 12 King Savinsky (3 g Savabeel - Lynisky) - Hayden Tinsley; was made to work hard when trapped wide near the pace and to his credit remained in the fight until the 150 metres on Feb. 1 in the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m) at Te Rapa. Drawn wide in the $750k NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), he will be given every chance to see out the mile and a half trip following a patient ride and he has the right physical makeup to run a good Derby - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

5:16pm R9 17 Spellbinder (3 f O'Reilly - Scenic Sprint) - Matt Cameron; did all she could when finishing second in the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) on Feb. 8 at Te Rapa, and having had three races inside a month she comes into this blue riband event off 21-days. Unbeaten in three starts on the course, she put her rivals away by three lengths on Jan. 26 in the Karaka 3YO Mile (Listed, 1600m) and gained a valuable placing in the spring when third to stable-mate Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Riccarton. Both her grand-dam, Final Walk (Godswalk), and great grand-dam Final Child (Pelopides) won to 1800 metres. She has gate speed to negate a wide draw and the athleticism to give the two favourites a good contest.

Hastings:
As on Friday Feb. 28 the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true.

1:15pm R1 1 Darci's Dream (2 f Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby) - Mick Dee (a1); displayed good gate speed and plenty of determination in winning the 2YO 1000    metres fresh-up on Feb. 14 at Te Aroha. As the only winner in the race she gets her share of weight (58kgs) in the 2YO 1200-metre handicap, but receives a kilo off with an apprentice claim and appears nicely placed here to offer stiff competition.

1:50pm R2 4 Stanica Star (7 g Danzero - Stanica) - Mick Dee (a1); followed two good trial wins with victories in two of his four starts, with this rider aboard, when campaigning through the latter part of last year and resumes off 61-days in the Open 1400 metres. The winner of six from twenty-seven, he can act in a fresh state and while improvement will come with the run he can make his presence felt if able to get a drag into proceedings.