Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing at two venues on Saturday 3 December.

Ellerslie (twilight meeting):

As on Friday 2 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 5.5 metres. 2mls rain forecast Friday.

2.54 p.m. R1 4 Zambezi Warrior (4 g Pentire - Zambezi) - Michael Coleman; was good through the line when recording a comfortable win in the Rating 85 1800 metres at New Plymouth, and carries the same weight (59kg) in the $27,500 Rating 85 2200 metres. Runner-up here in the $100,000 Championship Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m) at the end of his previous campaign, luck in running from the outside barrier (12) appears crucial to his chances. Current fixed odds favourite: $3.00 & $1.45.

4.39 p.m. R4 3 Kingsman (3 c Darci Brahma - Society Lady) - Mark Du Plessis; looked well and made good ground from last in the Rating 75 1000 metres at Te Aroha, and ideally drawn in barrier two for the $50,000 Mufhasa 3YO Stakes (Listed, 1300m). Third here in the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) as a two-year-old indicates his credentials to be competitive in what looks an even and interesting field. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.80.

Trentham:

As on Friday 2 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 4 metres. 3mls rain forecast Friday.

12.10 p.m. R1 10 Royal Success (4 g Savabeel - Royal Show) - Matt Cameron; was accepted to resume off 168 days last Saturday in the $22,500 Rating 75 1340 metres at Wanganui, but the meeting was abandoned. He ended his previous campaign with a hat-trick of wins, all on slow ground, and after two trials contests the $30,000 Rating 85 1400 metres. With good form surrounding the trials and wins, he appears well placed on the minimum (54kg) to produce a bold fresh up performance from barrier six. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.75.

1.20 p.m. R3 2 Smashing (5 m Pins - Ruud Van Slaats) - Cameron Lammas; looked in good heart when finishing second to Snowdrop (Pins) in a trial on 9 November at Cambridge, and resumes off 259 days in the $30,000 Rating 85 1000 metres. She gained her first stakes placing with a slashing run for third here in the $50,000 Lightning Stakes (Listed, 1200m) to end her previous campaign, has both a terrific fresh up and course record, great association with the rider, and worthy of her dominant favouritism. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.25.

1.55 p.m. R4 4 Melody Belle (2 f Commands - Mejeka Belle) - Cameron Lammas; scooped the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series bonus when beating subsequent winning stable-mate Summer Monsoon (Stratum) on debut over 900 metres on 12 October at Ruakaka, with Lammas aboard, having displayed good attributes at the trials, and now steps in class for $100,000 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m). Te Akau has experienced success in the race previously and the clear second favourite should give a good account with a touch of luck from the outside barrier (8). Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.25.

4.56 p.m. R9 9 Abidewithme (7 m Redoute's Choice - Crimson) - Danielle Johnson; returned to her best with a top win in the $100,000 Tauranga Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m), and ideally drawn in barrier two for Captain Cook Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m). Suited by the weight for age scale, as was the case last start, she produced a mammoth effort to win the $50,000 Anniversary Handicap (Listed, 1600m) here in January 2014, and worthy of her current equal favouritism with Volkstok'n'barrell (Tavistock). Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.75.

5.34 p.m. R10 6 Echezeaux (5 m Encosta De Lago - Grand Echezeaux) - Matt Cameron; commenced her campaign with a terrific win in the Rating 70 1600 metres on 2 November at Avondale, and tackles the $30,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. The winner of three from eight, including two of three attempts at the trip, she is destined to get over more ground but should be suited by a mile on this course to rate an each way chance from barrier six.