Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has twelve horses racing at three venues on Saturday 24 October.

Ellerslie:

As on Friday 23 October the conditions were: cloudy and Good3, rail out 9.5 metres (12m from 400m to 1000m) - 20mls rain forecast on Saturday.

2.15 p.m. R4 7 Imperium (4 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal) - Cameron Lammas; made ground from the rear on 3 October in the Rating 75 2000 metres at Hastings, after resuming with a win over a mile Te Rapa. His two wins have been recorded on slow footing and a bold performance is expected. As a backup, he is also an acceptor for the Rating 75 2000 metres on Monday at Woodville.

3.58 p.m. R7 6 Tatters (3 f Tavistock - Rattle) - Grant Cooksley; knuckled down and sprinted to win the Maiden 1200 metres on 9 September at Te Rapa, backing it up with strong second in the Rating 65 1200 metres at the same venue. Up in class to contest the Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m), she acts on slow footing and has her share of ability to measure up - one of three in the race for Te Akau.

3.58 p.m. R7 7 Duchess Kate (3 f Savabeel - Royal Prize) - Cameron Lammas; boomed home for an impressive win in the Maiden 1300 metres on 17 October at Taupo. Handily drawn in barrier three, which will hopefully remain advantageous, she should handle some cut in the track and has a bit of quality about her to compete at this level - one of three in the race for Te Akau.

3.58 p.m. R7 10 Thetruthisoutthere (3 f Starcraft - Absolute Faith) - Vinnie Colgan; won the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres in commanding fashion on dead ground at Ruakaka, and comes in off 24 days. A lovely looking filly, she has taken to the racing caper very well and should give a good account providing the footing remains reasonable.

5.09 p.m. R9 3 Wolfwhistle (5 g O'Reilly - Legs) - Leith Innes; needed the outing when resuming off 328 days in the Open 1400 metres on 2 October at Te Rapa. He has drawn barrier one in the Rating 85 1600 metres. Preparing to step over more distance, having recorded a hat-trick of wins over 2000 metres, he may find some opponents sharper at the mile and would be also be reserved if the footing became too testing.

Trentham:

As on Friday 23 October the conditions were: overcast and Dead5, rail true - 12mls rain forecast on Friday night.

3.38 p.m. R6 7 Xtravagant (3 c Pentire - Axiom) - Matt Cameron; rectified a slightly inauspicious start to his campaign in the Northland Breeders Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Ruakaka, with a much improved effort for third in the 3YO 1200 metres on Slow7 at Te Rapa. He now contests the 3YO 1400 metres - the distance of his 7 ¼-length win on debut as a two-year-old. A willing colt, he appears a strong chance from barrier four providing the footing remains okay.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 23 October the conditions were: overcast and Good3, rail out 6 metres.

12.54 p.m. R2 6 Sassy ‘N' Smart (2 f Smart Missile - Panorama Ridge) - Michael McNab; looked very progressive winning her only trial eleven days ago at Waipa, with this rider aboard, and makes her debut from barrier four in the 2YO 800 metres. Her sire Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock) won both his two-year-old starts, and the pedigree cross has its fair share of brilliance.

2.04 p.m. R4 9 Opulent (4 m Keeper - Silk Slipper) - Michael McNab; ended her previous campaign with back-to-back wins; the most recent by four lengths over 1400 metres at Ruakaka, and she resumes off 105 days in the Rating 75 1200 metres. Angling for a place in the Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 11 November will require a bold performance in this - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

2.04 p.m. R4 10 Flaming (4 m Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - David Walsh; won out of her rightful grade at the last meeting here on Oct. 3 and despite gaining four rating points she is handicapped no differently - carrying 54kgs in the corresponding Rating 75 1200-metre event. Given that, she again appears a good each way chance from barrier four.

3.10 p.m. R6 6 Vive La Difference (4 m Choisir - L'Artiste) - Michael McNab; remained a model of consistency when finishing second here on 3 October in the Rating 1600 metres, and expected to appreciating stepping to 1800 metres (and further). Placed in each of her three runs on the course, she has the added persuasion of side winkers and deserves a winning turn.

3.45 p.m. R7 6 Special Memories (3 f Fastnet Rock - Memories of You) - David Walsh; drew clear off the trail for a commanding win here on 3 October in the 3YO 1400 metres, following a tidy effort for sixth in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) won by stable-mate Windborne (Darci Brahma). At her best on good ground, she should prove very competitive again if on her best behaviour.

3.45 p.m. R7 7 Risque (3 f Darci Brahma - So Explicit) - Michael McNab; staged a big performance when getting home for second, after nothing went right, in the race won by Special Memories. Prior to, she won the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Fillies & Mares Maiden 1200 metres in a cakewalk (11 lengths) at Ashburton. If things go her way from barrier five she rates a top chance.