Te Akau Riccarton Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Wednesday 4 March at Riccarton.    

Riccarton:  

Weather: showery, track: Heavy8, rail: out 8 metres from 1000m and 10 metres to winning post. No rain forecast.

3:20 p.m. R3 9 Arctic Jewel (3 f Frosted – Miss Gem) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she followed up a solid effort with a comprehensive fourth start win in the Maiden 1000 metres on 6 February at Tauherenikau, also with the Te Akau apprentice aboard. Now resident at our southern stable, she is one of two runners contesting the $25,000 Rating 65 1000 metres. She won her maiden in an dominant fashion, has the benefit of weight relief to 54kg, and she is easily capable of a top three finish. Fixed odds: $1.95 & $1.15.

3:20 p.m. R3 10 Best Rose (3 f Maurice – Queen’s Legacy) – Courtney Barnes; she was allowed to settle last, positioning seven lengths off the leaders at the 600m, and closed the margin nicely down outside in a trial on 24 February at Ashburton. Resuming in the Rating 65 1000 metres, she is another with a good course/distance record including a win, is talented and also races well fresh, but her draw (11) is the potential stumbling block. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.60.

4:31 p.m. R5 7 Hooray For Harry (4 g Harry Angel – Here We Come) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he finished his previous campaign with a good second in the Rating 75 1200 metres during Cup Week here in November. He enjoyed a break and then trialled, tracking through nicely with a good finish for third ion 24 February at Ashburton. Resuming in the $25,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, the apprentice aboard sees his allotted weight drop to 55.5kg - he’s a  dual course/distance winner, and has the right gate (2) to give this field a shake - the first of a stable duo in the event. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.70.

4:31 p.m. R5 8 Vivacious (5 m Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Bruno Queiroz; she was never put under any pressure while running home well for third in a trial on 3 February at Timaru, and resumes in the Rating 75 1200 metres. With four career wins to 1400 metres on her page, she possesses a big finish, and you can expect to see her finishing off very strongly fresh-up. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.95. 

5:10 p.m. R6 5 Cognoscenti (4 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he fought hard for second after dictating terms in the $25,000 Rating 75 2000 metres here on 4 February, and contests the corresponding event. It really was an encouraging effort first time up in distance, he carries only 55.5kg, and looks a genuine top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

5:48 p.m. R7 7 Celtic Bling (4 m Embellish – Niamh Elizabeth) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she fought solidly for fourth after racing handily in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 20 February at Ashburton, won by stable-mate Cool ‘N’ Fast and contests the $25,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. She was a maiden winner over 1400 metres, drops to 55.5kg, is a genuine performer, and if she can overcome her nasty gate (15), she can deliver a top four result. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.35.

Main picture - Arctic Jewel winning at Tauherenikau