Te Akau Riccarton Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses racing on Saturday 9 September at Riccarton.

As on Friday 8 September the conditions were: fine and Slow7, rail out 11 metres. No rain forecast.

12.10 p.m. R1 3 Imperium (6 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal) - Michael McNab; showed to be in great fettle when trialling on 1 August at Te Teko, and although off the pace he was good through the line in his second trial outing on 18 August at Taupo. Resuming in the $25,000 Rating 75 1600 metres commences his path towards another tilt at the New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m), a race in which he finished third last year. A field of eight will ensure remaining within range of the leaders but true competitiveness is likely to come over more ground and on better footing.

12.10 p.m. R1 4 Grazia (5 m Savabeel - Trocair) - Tegan Newman (a4); ended the previous campaign on a high, winning three of her last five starts, and resumes in the $25,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. She trialled very well on 1 August at Te Teko, with Newman aboard, when sustaining a terrific run for second. A sister to Australian Group Three winner Shillelagh and Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Tullamore, she warrants respect based on both her form and further maturity and looks competitive in this field.

2.34 p.m. R5 5 Age of Fire (3 c Fastnet Rock - Dragon's Tail) - Michael McNab; scratched when footing was downgraded to Heavy11 last Friday at Ashburton, he makes his debut in the $25,000 3YO 1000 metres. He displayed ability and a powerful action when trialling on both good and dead ground as a two-year-old, and indicated there was plenty of improvement to come after working home solidly for fourth when trialling over 820 metres on 1 August at Te Teko.

2.34 p.m. R5 8 Swing Note (3 f Encosta De Lago - Andallthatjazz) - Jillian Morris; was another scratched when footing downgraded to Heavy11 last Friday at Ashburton, and after trialling well on 1 August at Te Teko, she resumes in the $25,000 3YO 1000 metres. Very encouraging when finishing fourth on debut in the Wentwood Grange 2YO Premier 1100 metres in December at Te Rapa, she spelled after contesting the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) at her fourth start, and should race well if appreciative of the footing.

5.00 p.m. R9 6 Tiffany's Time (4 m Alamosa - Tinsel Time) - Michael McNab; resumes in the $25,000 Rating 65 1400 metres on the back of two fitness trials in August. Consistent in four starts before winning her Maiden over 1400 metres on Dead6 last October at Ruakaka, she too seems to appreciate better going but this race appears an ideal opportunity to get her campaign underway.