Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has eight horses racing at two venues on Saturday 2 July.

Te Rapa:

As on Friday 1 July the conditions were: fine & Heavy10, rail out 6 metres. Fine forecast race day.

2.46 p.m. R7 4 Opulent (4 m Keeper - Silk Slipper) - Matt Cameron; drops in grade after finishing fifth in the $25,000 Rating 85 1400 metres on Dead4 at Ruakaka. Impressive winning over 1400 metres in July last year, she strips in good order for her third start since resuming and a step up in distance should suit in the $22,500 Rating 75 1600 metres. Quite a few progeny by Keeper (Danehill) have appreciated heavy going.

3.18 p.m. R8 4 Tavis Star (4 m Tavistock - Megapins) - Hanafi Noorman (a4); missed racing on Wednesday when the meeting was abandoned at Rotorua, and brings good form to the $20,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. She stretched to a big lead before being collared on the line over a mile at Avondale, with this rider aboard, after producing a top run for third in the $20,000 Rating 65 1400 metres at Rotorua. Placed at both course attempts, and aided by weight relief, a good ride from barrier eight should have her right in the mix again.

Hastings:

As on Friday 1 July the conditions were: cloudy and Slow9, rail out 7.5 metres. Fine forecast race day.

10.40 a.m. R1 7 Skyscraper (4 g Manhattan Rain - Grand Performance) - Daniel Miller; make his jumps debut in the $10,000 Maiden Hurdle (2500m) and has shown a skilful talent for the caper. Two starts ago, he won the Rating 65 High-weight 1600 metres by seven lengths on Heavy11 at Matamata, with this rider aboard, and the likelihood of bowling along in front should provide a good spectacle.

11.10 a.m. R2 6 Maestro (5 g Encosta De Lago - Miss Scarlatti) - Emily Farr (a1.5); found the testing ground beyond him debuting over jumps in the $10,000 Maiden Hurdles (3100m) on Heavy10 at Te Aroha, but previous course form should aid his prospects in the $10,000 Maiden Hurdle (2500m).

1.49 p.m. R7 4 Brer (7 g China Cat - La Fox) - Daniel Miller; finishing second in the $50,000 Waikato Steeplechase (4000m) and third in the $50,000 McGregor Grant Steeplechase (4150m), respectively, is good form for the $50,000 Hawkes Bay Steeplechase (4800m). He is well seasoned for the assignment and victory would give local owners an enormous thrill.

2.24 p.m. R8 15 Herschal (3 g Savabeel - Starring) - Johanathan Parkes; was certainly not disgraced when circling from last behind winning stable-mate Esprit De Corps (Bel Esprit) in the Maiden 1400 metres on Heavy10 at Te Aroha, and further improvement would make him competitive in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres.

3.36 p.m. R10 11 Astrid (4 m Pins - Astralita) - Rosie Myers; worked home belatedly from last with Te Akau apprentice Jasmine Fawcett (a4) aboard when resuming in the $22,500 Rating 75 1200 metres at Ruakaka, run and won in slick time by stable-mate Shillelagh (Savabeel). A very determined race mare, with a good record at the trip, she can show marked improvement in the $22,500 Rating 75 1400 metres.

3.36 p.m. R10 15 Chadsdale (4 g Castledale - Geeiliani) - Darryl Bradley; resumed with a top run for third in the $22,500 Rating 75 1200 metres at Te Rapa, and always over the odds he can give cheek with luck from a wide draw in the $22,500 Rating 75 1400 metres.

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