Te Akau Riccarton Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Wednesday 27 May at Riccarton (poly-track).     

Riccarton: 

Weather: fine, track: poly-track, rail: true. 

11:45 a.m. R1 3 Purple Prose (4 g Embellish – Lady Masako) – Bruno Queiroz; he was perfectly ridden when sustaining a strong finish to win the Rating 65 1600 metres here (poly-track) on 14 May, and contests the $17,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. A triple course/distance winner, including with Queiroz aboard, he has recorded back-to-back wins here from his last two outings and rates a top three chance from barrier five - one of two in the event, a homebred battle. Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.50. 

11:45 a.m. R1 6 Queen Of Naples (4 m Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time) – Floor Moerman (a2); she closed strongly from last in fastest last 600m (34.3) for third in the Rating 75 1400 metres here (poly-track) on 14 May, and also contests the Rating 75 1600 metres. She won a Pearl Series bonus race over 1400 metres here the start prior, all three wins have been on the Riccarton poly-track, including over 1600 metres. She enjoys weight relief to 53kg, and she too looks a top three chance from the handy barrier two. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.45.

12:55 p.m. R3 1 Vivacious (5 m Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Bruno Queiroz; she remained back in the Rating 75 1400 metres here (poly-track) on 14 May, and contests the $17,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. A dual course/distance winner also with Queiroz aboard, she was in winning form this time last year, and this is her opportunity to atone in small field. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.30. 

1:30 p.m. R4 3 Paper Moon (3 f Savabeel – Kansas) – Bruno Queiroz; she finished off well out of midfield for second in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 2 May, and contests the $17,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses). She has placed in two from two starts over 1200 metres and can deliver a top three finish if appreciative of the poly-track at first attempt - and the wide draw doesn't aid her chances (11). Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.60. 

3:54 p.m. R8 6 Celtic Bling (4 m Embellish – Niamh Elizabeth) – Elen Nicholas (a); she quickened home well for fourth from well back in the field after drawing wide (12) in the Rating 65 1200 metres here (poly-track) on 14 May, and is the first of two stable runners lining up in the $17,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. A course/distance winner, she brings a good poly-track record to this race, and rates a top three chance with a good dose of luck from her wide alley (14). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

3:54 p.m. R8 7 Novelette (3 f Cool Aza Beel – Fiction) – Bruno Queiroz; she did very well when closing for third in fastest last 600m (33.4) after drawing outside (15) in the Rating 65 1200 metres here on 2 May, and likewise contests the Rating 65 1400 metres. A strong Maiden winner over 1200 metres in March at Ashburton, she has been racing solidly, and is another more than capable of a first four finish if appreciative of poly-track at her first attempt. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.20. 

Main picture - Novelette winning