Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has two horses entered for the nine-race card at Tauranga, and three on the ten-race premier programme at Riccarton, Saturday November 15.

Tauranga:
As on Friday November 14 the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail out 2.5 metres.

1.35 p.m. R3 2 Smashing (3 f Pins - Ruud Van Slaats) - rider to be advised; relaxed nicely outside the leader and worked clear late for a terrific second up win in track record time (1:09.3) on Oct. 18 in the 3YO 1200 metres at Rotorua. She displays all the grit and ability of her talented dual group two winning dam Ruud Van Slaats (Van Nistelrooy), and again poses a threat stepping out in the 3YO 1400 metres - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

1.35 p.m. R3 4 No Tricks (3 f Savabeel - Mezaire) - Cameron Lammas; settled back from an outside gate and produced a run full of merit for second on Oct. 25 in the Rating 65 1400 metres at Ellerslie. Prior to, and following a good third on debut, 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. Although meeting a better overall class of horses, she is gifted enough to match them.

Riccarton:
As on Friday November 14 the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail out 2 metres from 1200m to 700m and true the remainder.

2.30 p.m. R5 4 Bronte Lass (6 m Stravinsky - Little Dorritt) - Lee Magorrian (a2); travelled up with plenty to offer and got clear late for an impressive win here last Saturday in the Rating 85 1600 metres, having indicated when third on the same course at her previous start that she was returning to form. Up in distance but remaining in the same grade to contest the Rating 85 1800 metres, she will again carry 56.5kgs with an apprentice claim in place and although facing a bigger field and a few stronger rivals she has trained on the right fashion to give it a good shake.

3.05 p.m. R6 4 Darci's Dream (3 f Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby) - David Walsh; worked home after a shuffling run in the Ray Coupland Stakes (Listed, 1400m) here on Oct. 25, after dashing clear to win the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on this course prior. From barrier seven, she now contests the New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). Currently $18 in the TAB fixed odds market, she and her rivals will supposedly have their work cut out beating $1.70 favourite O'Marilyn (O'Reilly). She is robust type with the ability to foot against a tough bunch of fillies - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

3.05 p.m. R6 8 Flaming (3 f Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - Matt Cameron; experienced a topsy-turvy run in the Ray Coupland Stakes (Listed, 1400m) here on Oct. 25 and now drawn barrier twelve as a $21 chance in the New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). Resuming in the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Sept. 20 at Hastings, she came from an outside gate to finish second to O'Marilyn and if able to recapture her best form she can get into the action.