Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing at two venues on Saturday 28 November.

Ellerslie:

As on Friday 27 November the conditions were: cloudy and Good3, rail out 3 metres with 14mls forecast Friday night and 5mls race day.

3.09 p.m. R5 10 Imperium (4 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal) - Matt Cameron; made a midrace move and got home strongly for third in the Rating 75 2400 metres here on 3 November and now contests the $25,000 Rating 75 2100 metres. Continuing to improve, having resumed with a win in three runs this time in, he appears ideally weighted (55.5kgs) to threaten this field.

3.46 p.m. R6 5 Tavis Star (4 m Tavistock - Megapins) - Zy-Nor Azman (a3); sustained a big finish from back in the field for second when resuming on 7 November in the Rating 65 1400 metres at Te Rapa, and steps to a $20,000 mile. Not a big mare, an apprentice claim reduces the impost to 55kgs. Placed at her only course attempt, on heavy ground, she possesses a host of versatile elements to prove competitive.

4.56 p.m. R8 4 Silverdale (6 g Castledale - Elianto) - Opie Bosson; returned to winning form with a dominant display last Saturday in the Bulls' Country Cup (Open, 1500m) on Dead6 footing at Awapuni, and now contests the $70,000 Eagle Technology Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m). He meets a far stronger field, but drops in weight to 55kgs, has a class rider aboard and can handle rain-affected going.

Wanganui:

As on Friday 27 November the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail true with 17mls forecast race day.

1.35 p.m. R3 11 Astrid (4 m Pins - Astralita) - Cameron Lammas; resumed with a dominant win in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 21 October at Te Aroha, and has trained on pleasingly. Up in grade and distance to contest the $18,500 Rating 75 1340 metres, drawing barrier two is advantageous and a bold performance would provide ideal insight into her placement over the summer months.

2.10 p.m. R4 9 Shillelagh (4 m Savabeel - Trocair) - Cameron Lammas; trialled pleasingly behind runners at Cambridge, having recorded a smart debut win over 1200 metres in April at Woodville. Resuming in the $17,500 Rating 65 1200 metres, she is likely to settle just off the pace from barrier four and has the talent to prove competitive. A sister to Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Tullamore [$827,000 in stakes], she has a promising future over more distance.

3.24 p.m. R6 3 4.39 p.m. R8 4 Star of Greenbeel (5 g Savabeel - Greensleeves) - Cameron Lammas; was tightened near the rail for a close third in the Rating 65 1400 metres at Hastings, with this rider aboard. The winner of the race, Goodsav (Savabeel), contests the $70,000 Wellington Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) today (Friday) at Otaki. At his only previous race day start, he displayed good stretch and fight to win on debut last December over 1200 metres at Rotorua. Likely to work forward from a wide draw, he appears a good each way chance in the race.

5.13 p.m. R9 13 Osmunda (5 m O'Reilly - Wyndam Special) - Cameron Lammas; held her ground in midfield on 14 November in the Rating 75 1600 metres at Tauranga, after resuming with a win on the same course two starts prior in the Rating 65 1600 metres. Ready for a step up in distance for the $18,500 Rating 75 2040 metres, she meets a solid field and, off a wide gate, will be looking for a drag into proceedings.