Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing at two venues on Saturday 10 December.

Te Rapa:

As on Friday 9 December the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail out 5.5 metres. 5mls rain forecast Saturday.

12.48 p.m. R2 6 Iffragal (2 f Iffraaj - Regal Thrills) - Matt Cameron; makes her debut from barrier six in the $30,000 Wentwood Grange 2YO Premier 1100 metres. Following a good first up fourth at the trials to subsequent Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) winner Prom Queen (Super Easy), she was very professional winning her next trial by four lengths on 22 November at Te Teko. A majority of the nine runners are having their first start and despite trial form being difficult to assess she boasts the right attributes to be competitive.

12.48 p.m. R2 12 Swing Note (2 f Encosta De Lago - Andallthatjazz) - Cameron Lammas; makes her debut from barrier one in the $30,000 Wentwood Grange 2YO Premier 1100 metres. She finished on terms with subsequent debutante winning stable-mate Gold Fever (Savabeel) in her first trial, and more recently finished second on 22 November at Te Teko. Running almost identical time to Iffragal, above, she is a filly with an easy action and has the benefit of the ace draw.

1.58 p.m. R4 1 Sebrose (6 g Sebring - Bramble Rose) - Jasmine Fawcett (a4); was accepted to resume a fortnight ago at Wanganui, but the meeting was abandoned. Returning for a cups' campaign after winning five races and $400,000 when trained by Mark Walker in Singapore, he resumes off 209 days in the $30,000 Rating 85 1600 metres. Clearly the highest rated in the field, weight relief eases the burden to 59.5kgs and this appears an ideal starting point to bring him on for further assignments.

Awapuni:

As on Friday 9 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 5.5 metres. 7mls rain forecast Saturday.

1.45 p.m. R3 6 Vive La Difference (5 m Choisir - L'Artiste) - Michael McNab; was good through the line when resuming in the $30,000 Rating 85 1400 metres on Melbourne Cup Day at Ellerslie, and given time since she contests the $25,000 Rating 85 1600 metres. Stakes' placed over 2100 metres, she is an adaptable mare that appears ideally placed for her second up assignment and a touch of give in the ground should hold no fears.

4.13 p.m. R7 6 Chambord (6 g Zabeel - Miss Montjeu) - Michael McNab; had no room to improve in the straight when resuming in the $30,000 Rating 85 1100 metres on 26 November at Ellerslie, but still ran home from last in a tidy 34.1 for the final 600m. Drawn wide in the $30,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres, he has raced well here previously, is an undeniable talent at best, and combines with an inform rider following wins aboard stable-mates Splurge (Savabeel) and Fastnet Fire (Fastnet Rock) on Thursday at Hastings.

4.48 p.m. R8 9 Our Abbadean (4 m Lookin at Lucky - Highland Lights) - Michael McNab; was freshened following a run on 16 September at Taupo, had a quiet trial recently at Te Teko, and with blinkers and a tongue tie added she contests the $22,500 Rating 75 1400 metres. Very good when recording back-to-back wins and then a strong second March/April, she has ability at best to be competitive in this field from barrier six.