Te Akau Riccarton Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on Wednesday 4 February at Riccarton. 

Riccarton:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: out 4.5 metres. 

1:00 p.m. R1 14 Perlino (3 f Super Seth – Palomino) – Triston Moodley (a1); she fought well for a close up third after leading in the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres on Boxing Day (26 Dec.) at Otaki, and contests the corresponding event. She is a filly who has been trending in the right direction and she looks capable of a top three finish. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.40.

3:20 p.m. R5 15 Novelette (3 f Cool Aza Beel – Fiction) – Bruno Queiroz; she did well after working forward from her wide gate (14) when finishing third in the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres here on 14 January - Queiroz was also aboard for that race and today she takes her place in a corresponding event. She is an improving filly, who is a determined individual and if she brings that attitude today, she can be a first four contender from barrier seven. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $2.00.

3:55 p.m. R6 6 Celtic Bling (4 m Embellish – Niamh Elizabeth) – Bruno Queiroz; the first of two stable starters in this race, she went forward from an outside gate to situate in second place, then quickened and sustained a solid run to finish a good third in a trial on 15 January at Ashburton. Resuming in the $25,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, this homebred mare is a very genuine performer, she does have the ability to race well when fresh but she’s got a nightmare gate to contend with (15). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $3.00.

3:55 p.m. R6 12 Hello Bess (3 f Hello Youmzain – Niamh Elizabeth) – Triston Moodley (a1); the second runner for the team in this Rating 65 1200 metres event is also a homebred - she held her ground from three back on the inner to finish sixth in the Rating 65 1200 metres here on 14 January. In this even field, she receives the opportunity to improve further with the addition of blinkers too. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.60.

4:30 p.m. R7 3 Insatiable (6 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Triston Moodley (a1); he received an economical trip and ran home strongly for second in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 14 December at Trentham. He has returned south which he loves and has been given time (52 days) to come through that race and takes his place in the $25,000 Open Handicap 1100 metres. He brings a good course and distance record to the contest and rates a top three chance from barrier one - one of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.55.

4:30 p.m. R7 9 Malmaison (5 g Darci Brahma – Altai Rose) – Bruno Queiroz; he ran home solidly for sixth after steadying back from his outside gate in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 14 January, also with Queiroz aboard, and he too contests the Open Handicap 1100 metres. He won four times to 1200 metres in his last campaign, he’s a dual course winner that drops to minimum weight (54kg), and he’ll be looking to bounce back with visor blinkers added. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.80.

5:05 p.m. R8 4 Cognoscenti (4 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Triston Moodley (a1); he fought well for a solid sixth after shadowing the leader in the Rating 75 1600 metres here on 24 January, when also ridden by Moodley, and takes his place the $25,000 Rating 75 2000 metres. He is capable of further improvement if he appreciates the step in up distance. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.75.

5:46 p.m. R1 15 Aishiteru (3 f Satono Aladdin – Cuddles For Layla) – Kylie Williams; she fought on with pluck finishing a solid fourth on debut. She had to work hard to get handy at her first start in the Maiden 1600 metres on 2 January at Tauherenikau, also with Queiroz aboard, and has accepted for the  $25,000 rating 60 2000m. This is a nice opportunity for her to improve with a little more raceday craft under her belt, and stepping up over ground but she will need a lot of luck from her wide draw (15). Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.75.

6:24 p.m. R10 1 Cognito (6 g So You Think – Lady Primrose) – Triston Moodley (a1); he found his feet at the rear, and while he remained back over a sprint distance, he worked nicely through the line in a trial on 15 January at Ashburton. He is another that simply loves life in the south and resumes in the $25,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. He ended his previous campaign with a strong second in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) here on 25 October, and then won fresh-up over 1580 metres on the course in August. While he carries top weight (59.5kg), he is nonetheless capable of measuring up this solid field. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.85.

6:59 p.m. R11 10 Queen Of Naples (4 m Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time) – Triston Moodley (a1); she came from beyond midfield on the inner with a good finish for third in the Rating 65 1600 metres here on 14 January, and is one of two starters for the stable in the $35,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. She boasts a solid course/distance record, and has the blinkers on, but she’s another who has copped a dreadful barrier (15) which doesn’t help her quest. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.45.

6:59 p.m. R11 17 Purple Prose (4 g Embellish – Lady Masako) – Bruno Queiroz; he fought well after his jockey (Queiroz) lost his stirrup at the start in the Rating 65 1400 metres here on 14 January, and contests the $35,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. He had sustained strong finish for second at the start prior when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 28 December at Timaru - the blinkers are on but he has copped a dreadful alley (17). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00. 

Main picture: Malmaison winning at Riccarton