Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses entered for the ten-race programme at Ruakaka, and one on the ten-race card at Hastings, Saturday June 29.

Ruakaka:

As at 9:24am on Wednesday June 26 the conditions were: cloudy and Dead6, rail out 5 metres.

11:15am R1 3 Darci's Gold (4 m Darci's Gold - Golden Dawn) - Matt Cameron; raced on pace, challenged to lead at the 400 metres and fought hard for a close third on June 8 in the Benchmark 75 1200 metres on Slow8 at Te Rapa. In the corresponding race, she has the gate speed to overcome barrier eight and the softer her run in transit the better her chances of threatening in a solid line-up of opponents. Improved footing will help her cause and she strips in good order for the race.

3:41pm R9 9 Urban Angel (4 m Savabeel - Tutuland) - Matt Cameron; received a run best forgotten, after being shuffled to the rear and making ground untested in the straight on June 8 in the Benchmark 65 1600 metres at Te Rapa. Impressive when winning over a mile on Dead4 at Ellerslie, drawing barrier five in the Benchmark 65 1600 metres on decent footing allows her a realistic chance and she has the ability to force the issue in this field.

4:16pm R10 11 Goyescas (4 m Encosta De Lago - Larrocha) - Mark Hills; was unable to get within striking distance, from the rear, on June 8 in the Benchmark 75 1600 metres at Te Rapa. Drawn barrier eleven in the corresponding event, a gear change of blinkers on - which she donned for her two previous wins - should be a telling factor. She galloped very well during the week and can threaten given a decent passage.

Hawkes Bay:

As at 9:24am on Wednesday June 26 the conditions were: fine and Heavy10, rail out 6 metres.

12:00pm R3 10 Goosebumps (8 g Istidaad - Raewyn's Polly) - Shaun Phelan; jumped proficiently near the pace and pleased in his performance for fourth to Zenocoin on June 15 in the Manawatu Hurdles (2900m) at Awapuni, with this rider aboard, in his first jumping assignment this time in. Facing a slightly strengthened line-up in the Hawkes Bay Hurdles (3100m), additional rain would aid his prospects and although he has done well in the interim a definite start is going to be weather dependent.

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