Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses entered for the eleven race premier programme at Hastings, and four during the nine races at Riccarton on Saturday 3 October.  

Hastings:

As on Friday 2 October the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true.

12.33 p.m. R2 10 Imperium (4 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal) - Matt Cameron; resumed off 146 days with a determined win in the Rating 65 1600 metres at Te Rapa, and 24 days later contests the $40,000 Rating 75 2000 metres. Prior to spelling in April, he recorded an effortless win over 2100 metres on dead/slow footing at Woodville. He will get back in running and the right drag into proceedings can see him competitive.

1.43 p.m. R4 11 Love Triangle (3 f Encosta De Lago - Love Diamonds) - Matt Cameron; proved superior winning 35 days ago on debut over 1200 metres at Ruakaka, and from barrier seven she steps up to contest the $70,000 Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). The ability of her rival three-year-old fillies makes the rise even more substantial but she is a special filly in her own right. Opened the fixed odds second favourite ($5.50), she should secure a good spot in transit and a timely challenge rests with the premiership winning rider for the past two seasons.

2.53 p.m. R6 7 Scrutinize (3 c O'Reilly - Legs) - Matt Cameron; could hardly have been more impressive winning fresh up in the 3YO 1200 metres (1:10.7) at Ruakaka, having charged home to win his only previous start in the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on April 1 at Matamata. Off 35 days, he now contests the prestigious $100,000 Sacred Falls Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). A race in which Sacred Falls (O'Reilly) stamped himself with a phenomenal win after blowing the start. He has looked a terrific prospect for some time now, pleased both the trainers and jockey in his work, and although likely to get back from a wide draw he can beat them with luck in running. His dam, Legs (Pins), won the Kelt Capital Stakes (Gr. 1, 2040m) on this day in 2006.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 2 October the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 8-9 metres.

1.23 p.m. R2 13 Flaming (4 m Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - David Walsh; ran a tidy third here in the Rating 65 1200 metres 28 days ago and reported to have trained well since. Up in grade but down in weight (57 to 54kgs) for the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres, she has the ability to match most in this field and should be finding the line boldly from off the pace.

3.08 p.m. R5 6 Risque (3 f Darci Brahma - So Explicit) - David Walsh; never copped the footing when sixth resuming at Taupo but won the $12,500 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Fillies & Mares Maiden 1200 metres in a cakewalk (11 lengths) with this jockey aboard at Ashburton. Off 21 days for the $17,500 3YO 1400 metres, she has thrived at the Riccarton base and is favoured to make it back-to-back wins - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

3.08 p.m. R5 8 Special Memories (3 f Fastnet Rock - Memories of You) - Alysha Collett; put in a tidy effort for sixth after being snagged off the outside gate in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) here a fortnight ago, in a race won by stable-mate Windborne (Darci Brahma). Up to 1400 metres, from barrier one, should suit and she has the ability to register a first four finish.

4.57 p.m. R8 12 Vive La Difference (4 m Choisir - L'Artiste) - Cameron Lammas; missed by a nose here a fortnight ago in the Rating 75 1400 metres and steps up to a mile in the $18,500 Rating 75 event. She meets a solid field of form runners, including her nemesis Montrachet (High Chaparral) but turning the tables would not surprise.