Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing at two venues on Saturday 27 February -

Matamata:

As on Friday 26 February the conditions were: cloudy and Dead5, rail true.

12.48 p.m. R2 4 Arpeggio (4 m Tavistock - Macchiato) - Matt Cameron; staged a good performance when coming from sixth to finish third in a hotly run $25,000 Rating 85 1300 metres here on 30 January and steps up to a mile in the $30,000 Rating 85 1600 metres. The tempo should suit and having won four of her eight starts she rates a strong each way chance in a small but select field.

1.58 p.m. R4 3 Heroic Valour (2 c Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Matt Cameron; raced handy to the pace and showed his class to win on debut in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres at Trentham and has been given an ideal four weeks between runs. In the deep end to contest the $50,000 Matamata Slipper (Listed, 1200m), he rates in the top three with Gasoline (Pluck) and Mongolian Falcon (Fastnet Rock).

2.33 p.m. R5 5 Flaming (4 m Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - Matt Cameron; worked home in tight quarters from last in a leader dominated $22,500 Rating 75 1200 metres at Te Rapa, and lines up in the $25,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. The inclusion of Seventh Up (Shinko King), Persuasive (Darci Brahma) and Triaction (Elusive City) make for a stern contest but the step up in distance is expected to suit.

3.10 p.m. R6 1 Sassy ‘N' Smart (2 f Smart Missile - Panorama Ridge) - Matt Cameron; proved too classy winning on debut at Riccarton and again on the same course in the $50,000 Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m). Off 105 days and following a smart trial win here over 1000 metres, she contests the $100,000 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m). Currently a $3.60 fixed odds favourite, she does have to contend with the outside draw (10) but has the arsenal to overcome it.

4.22 p.m. R8 1 Silverdale (6 g Castledale - Elianto) - Michael McNab; saved ground from last to finish second last Saturday in the $80,000 Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 1800m) at New Plymouth and again carries top weight (60kgs) in the $50,000 Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m). His course form, including a win, is very good and although striking a stronger field, he can be amongst it following an economical trip.

Otaki:

As on Friday 26 February the conditions were: cloudy and Dead4, rail true -

2.50 p.m. R5 1 Bordeaux (4 g High Chaparral - Our Echezeaux) - Jonathan Riddell; continued his rise through the grades - four wins from his last six starts - with a tenacious victory in the $22,500 Rating 75 2100 metres on 6 February at Te Rapa and contests the $20,000 St Leger Trial over 2100 metres. He comes in very well under the set weight conditions, rated nine points above his nearest rival, and assured favouritism.