Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing at three venues on Saturday 17 October. 

Rotorua:

As on Friday 16 October the conditions were: overcast and Good3, rail true.

2.57 p.m. R5 10 Hysteria Lane (4 m Perfectly Ready - Lane Cove) - Michael Coleman; was not asked to extend for fifth when trialling recently and resumes off 138 days in the $25,000 NZB Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres. She has a good affinity with the course, acts fresh, and a bold performance from barrier two will help shape her campaign.

Otaki:

As on Friday 16 October the conditions were: overcast and Good3, rail true.

1.25 p.m. R3 5 Silverdale (6 g Castledale - Elianto) - Cameron Lammas; looked good near the line when trialling over 1000 metres on Oct. 5 and resumes off 182 days in the $25,000 Open 1200 metres. He is coming to hand well, has a good fresh up record, and although against more seasoned rivals he has the quality to finish amongst it.

3.12 p.m. R6 8 Ekraarstatic (5 m Ekraar - Nugget Point) - Cameron Lammas; worked through the line solidly when resuming over 1400 metres at Ruakaka, and steps to a mile in the same grade with a tongue tie on. In terrific order, she may find a couple sharper in the $20,000 Rating 85 1600 metres but rates a sneaky place chance before getting up to 2000 metres.

4.22 p.m. R8 11 Lady Painton (3 f Tavistock - Lady Verify) - Cameron Lammas; put them away categorically when winning the Maiden 1400 metres by 15 lengths on Slow9 footing at Te Awamutu, with this rider aboard, and first time in blinkers. Up in class to contest the $25,000 NZB Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1600 metres ($20,000 bonus), she looks bright and could prove competitive again if able to emulate the performance left-handed on a different course.

Ashburton:

As on Friday 16 October the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true.

2.11 p.m. R4 12 Bishop Rock (3 c Fastnet Rock - Festival Princess) - Matt Cameron; was handy in the open and held his own on debut when finishing sixth in the Maiden 1200 metres on Dead4 footing at Riccarton. With the addition of blinkers and a tongue tie, he contests the Maiden 1600 metres. Talented rider Michael McNab suggested he was a ‘good horse in the making' when riding him in a trial before going south and he gets a chance to show it here from barrier six.

4.30 p.m. R8 7 Windborne (3 f Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby) - Rosie Myers; was given a sweet trip in the trail before recording her second stakes win, fresh up in the $50,000 Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Riccarton. She is now the $3.50 fixed odds favourite for the $50,000 John Grigg Stakes (Listed, 1400m). Again drawn barrier one, she appears a strong contender to repeat the dose off a similar trip - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

4.30 p.m. R8 9 Princess Davone (3 f Iffraaj - Nikey Davone) - Matt Cameron; had this jockey aboard when winning fresh up at Riccarton, and overcame difficulties in finishing third to Windborne in the Canterbury Belle Stakes. Drawn barrier eight, she has come of age on the trip away and in the market at $3.80 is considered a genuine threat to her stable-mate.