Te Akau NZ Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses entered for the nine-race card at Ellerslie, and one on the nine-race premier programme at Awapuni, Saturday Jan. 11.

Ellerslie:

As on Friday Jan. 10 the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail out 9 metres.

2:00pm R4 9 Flaming (2 f Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - Matt Cameron; freshened since finishing fourth on Nov. 23 in the Murdoch Newell Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on premier day at Pukekohe, she resumes from a 49-day break in the 2YO 1200 metres. She did very well when finishing fourth here on debut and has shown in two starts to be up to the best of her age. With plenty in the race looking to pick up stakes earnings to qualify for a start in the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) here on Jan. 26, her job is not made any easier off a wide gate.

2:36pm R5 4 Spellbinder (3 f O'Reilly - Scenic Sprint) - Matt Cameron; resumes from a 56-day break after finishing third to stable-mate Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Riccarton, and steps out in the Benchmark 75 1200 metres. A six and a half length winner of the Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Slow9 footing here in September, she subsequently finished second to Bounding (Lonhro) in the James & Annie Sarten Memorial (Gr. 3, 1400m) on Good3 ground at Te Rapa. Gearing up for a crack at the Karaka 3YO Mile (Listed, 1600m) here on Jan. 26, she will take good improvement from the outing. But, a natural athlete and her obviously class will also make her competitive.

5:15pm R9 6 Sir Darci (3 g Darci Brahma - Dominant) - Matt Cameron; resuming from a 99-day break in the Benchmark 65 1400 metres on Dec. 30 at Taupo, he put in a solid performance for fourth and has gone the right way since. Drawn the outside gate in the corresponding event, he possesses what it takes to be competitive in this field if able to secure a cosy trip.

Awapuni:

As on Friday Jan. 10 the conditions were: cloudy and Dead5, rail out 4 metres.

2:12pm R4 6 Precious Time (6 m Stravinsky - Ana Zeel) - Kelly Myers; had the ideal resuming run off a long spell when finishing fifth on Dec. 31 in the Benchmark 85 1480 metres at Stratford. Drawn barrier nine over a mile, she will again be ridden patiently and has the quality to make her into the finish.