Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has nine horses racing on Saturday 28 January at Pukekohe, Trentham, and Riccarton.

Pukekohe:

As on Friday 27 January the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true. No rain forecast.

12.36 p.m. R1 4 Imperium (5 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal) - Cameron Lammas; stamped himself amongst staying ranks with a close third in the New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m), in November at Riccarton, and resumes off 77 days in the $25,000 Rating 85 2100 metres. His action looked good when trialling over a sprint trip recently at Cambridge, and a small field of six appears an ideal starting point in his preparation towards the $500,000 Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) on 11 March at Ellerslie. Fixed odds: $5.20 & $1.45.

1.11 p.m. R2 2 Its Our Showtime (4 m Showcasing - Be Inspired) - Cameron Lammas; could hardly have trialled any better when steaming into fourth behind three stakes performers on 10 January at Cambridge, after spelling in July. Resuming off 203 days in the $20,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, she has a tricky draw (9) to contend with but possesses the natural athleticism to pose a threat first up.

1.46 p.m. R3 1 Summer Monsoon (2 c Stratum - Princess Narine) - Cameron Lammas; finished second to winning stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands) on debut in the 2YO 900 metres at Ruakaka, before travelling sweetly in front, with Lammas aboard, when winning the 2YO 1000 metres in November at Te Rapa. Given a break thereafter, he trialled beautifully for third on 10 January at Cambridge, and must be afforded an each way chance fresh-up in the $20,000 2YO 1200 metres.

2.58 p.m. R5 2 Latin Rose (5 m Mastercraftsman - Down View) - Cameron Lammas; resumed with a top run for third in the Rating 85 1200 metres on 29 December at Ellerslie, having been freshened after a great run for second in the Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) during Cup Week at Riccarton. Off 30 days, and ideally drawn in barrier three for the $25,000 Rating 85 1300 metres, she boasts the right form to rate a top four chance in this field. Fixed odds: $8.80 & $2.80.

3.38 p.m. R6 2 Kingsman (3 c Darci Brahma - Society Lady) - Cameron Lammas; looked well when making ground from last in the Rating 75 1000 metres, running 33.1 for his final 600m, in November at Te Aroha, and fronts again off 66 days in the $20,000 3YO 1400 metres. Third in the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) at the same time last season, he certainly has the ability to make his presence felt in a field of seven.

Trentham:

As on Friday 27 January the conditions were: overcast and Dead5, rail out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

1.23 p.m. R2 9 Icebomb (2 f Darci Brahma - Snowdonia) - Opie Bosson; makes her debut in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres, on the back of an impressive trial win over 800 metres on 13 December at Te Aroha, and fifth off an interrupted passage when trialling recently at Cambridge. Drawn barrier five in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres, she possesses the right attributes to prove competitive.

1.58 p.m. R3 6 Splurge (4 g Savabeel - Splashing Out) - Opie Bosson; scored a two and a quarter length fresh-up victory in the Rating 75 1200 metres at Hastings, and with Bosson aboard was defiant winning the Rating 75 1200 metres on Boxing Day at Ellerslie. Drawn barrier two in the $25,000 Rating 85 1200 metres, his record of four wins from only seven starts ensures strong support. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.40.

4.58 p.m. R8 6 Abidewithme (7 m Redoute's Choice - Crimson) - Opie Bosson; kept closing in earnest fashion for eighth in the weight-for-age Zabeel Classic (Gr. 1, 2000m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, and with blinkers on she drops in distance for the $200,000 Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m). Two starts ago, she made good headway here in the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), is a previous stakes' winner over a mile on this course, and has the quality to prove a factor with luck from barrier thirteen. Fixed odds: $28.00 & $6.50.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 27 January the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail true. No rain forecast.

5.13 p.m. R9 1 Madame Jamai (5 m Minstrel Court - Palais Jamai) - Daniel Bothamley; won a trial last Thursday at Ashburton, and resumes off 84 days in the $22,500 Rating 75 1200 metres after last contesting a very hot race here in the Pegasus Handicap (Listed, 1000m) on the first day of cup week in November. She boasts a grand course record and as a front runner, from barrier three, should be in the race for a long way.