Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing at two venues on Saturday 23 April.

Ellerslie:

As on Friday 22 April the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail true. No rain forecast.

3.49 p.m. R7 5 Zambezi Warrior (3 g Pentire - Zambezi) - Matt Cameron; galloped clear for an impressive win in the 3YO 2100 metres at Pukekohe, and steps up in class to contest the $100,000 Valachi Downs Championship Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m). Ideally drawn in a very even field, he has acted well on this course and possesses the quality and staying prowess to rate a top four chance.

4.25 p.m. R8 5 Abidewithme (6 m Redoute's Choice - Crimson) - Grant Cooksley; from a distant last she circled widest to all but win the $200,000 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Te Aroha, with this rider aboard, and continued to thrive in preparation for the $200,000 Manco Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m). The inclusion of males - the Breeders' was fillies & mares - makes the race stronger, but the likelihood of a strong tempo allows her a chance of getting into the frame again. On slow ground last year, she finished sixth in the corresponding event before winning the $100,000 Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) a week later at Te Rapa.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 22 April the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail true. No rain forecast.

1.15 p.m. R3 15 Primrose (2 f Saperavi - Primo Quest) - Lisa Allpress; was professional in winning a recent 1000-metre trial at Avondale, and makes her debut in the $20,000 2YO 1000 metres. She has settled in well down south and while requiring luck from a wide draw has a good amount of natural talent.

3.00 p.m. R6 6 Princess Davone (3 f Iffraaj - Nikey Davone) - Darryl Bradley; worked through the line solidly from the rear in the $50,000 NZB Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1600m) here last Saturday, and again has to contend with the outside draw (13) in the $50,000 NZB Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m). Finding a decent position in running should be possible, with the field likely to spread out over 2000m, and the rider has had plenty of experience and success on this course.