Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has two horse entered for the nine-race card at Ellerslie, and two on the ten-race premier programme at Awapuni, Saturday March 29.

Ellerslie:
As on Thursday March 28 the conditions were: overcast and Good3, rail out 9 metres.

1:02pm R2 1 Darci's Dream (2 f Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby) - Alex Forbes; was worked along in sixth before closing off solidly on March 1 in the 2YO 1200 metres at Hastings. Fresh-up prior, over 1000 metres on Feb. 14 at Te Aroha, she displayed good gate speed and plenty of determination in winning. At her only other start, she produced a solid effort here for sixth on debut in October and appears a strong chance stepping to 1300 metres from barrier four.

5:16pm R9 7 Wolfwhistle (3 c O'Reilly - Legs) - Alex Forbes; resumed from a 161-day break finishing fifth on March 15 in the 3YO 1400 metres at Te Rapa, and drops back in class for the Benchmark 65 1400 metres. Still looking to gain confidence in his racing, after a wind operation last October, he will be ridden quietly from a wide gate with a view to finding the line encouragingly. Out of the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) and Kelt Capital Stakes (Gr. 1, 2040m) winner Legs (Pins); he shapes as a type to appreciate stepping over more ground in due course.

Awapuni:
As on Thursday March 28 the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true.

1:15pm R3 9 Angelica Hall (3 f Guillotine - Greta Hall) - Hayden Tinsley; staged a mighty performance, after over-racing, when closing in for second to Group One winner Bounding (Lonhro) in the Mr Tiz Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) on March 8 at Ellerslie. Prior to, she produced an eye-catching trial for third to El Roca (Fastnet Rock) over 1000 metres and all things being equal she should prove hard to beat from barrier six in the 3YO 1400 metres.

2:25pm R5 1 Sir Darci (3 g Darci Brahma - Dominant) - Sam Spratt; displayed steely resolve to get the job done, after travelling keenly in fourth for this rider, on March 15 in Benchmark 85 1600 metres at Te Rapa. He brings exemplary form to the Manawatu Classic (Gr. 3, 2000m) and has continued to please trainer Jason Bridgman in his work over the past fortnight, but will have to relax in running from barrier seven in order to do himself justice up in distance for the first time.