Te Akau Sandown Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Sunday 2 August at Sandown (Melbourne). 

Sandown:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy8, rail: true 400m – winning post, remainder out 4 metres. No rain forecast. 

3:00 p.m. (NZ) - 1:00 p.m. (Vic) R2 6 Fierce Flight (8 g Flying Artie – First Bloom) – Luca Remondet; he finished third on Heavy10 going in the Maiden Steeplechase (3400m) on 12 July at Hamilton, also with Luca Remondet aboard, and contests the A$250,000 Ecycle Solutions Grand National Hurdle (4200m). He was a stakes' winner and was twice Group Three placed among six wins to 2200 metres in New Zealand, has been a winner over hurdles, but still faces a stiff assignment in what has ended up a strong field. NZ TAB fixed odds: $16.00 & $2.60.

4:20 p.m. (NZ) - 2:20 p.m. (Vic) R4 3 The Mighty Spar (9 g Savabeel – O’Dianne) – Luca Remondet; he finished third on a Heavy10 track in the Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m) on 28 June at Warrnambool, and since then has finished fourth in 1400-metre jump out on 20 July at Cranbourne. Contesting the A$100,000 Ecycle Solutions Crisp Steeplechase (4200m), he brings good form, is a winner of seven jumps' races having now won over $500,000 in prize money, and can be competitive against the best. NZ TAB fixed odds: $15.00 & $2.60. 

6:50 p.m. (NZ) - 4:50 p.m. (Vic) R8 2 Cinturato (4 g Shamus Award – Pirellina) – Ethan Brown; he came from the rear with a strong finish through the centre for third in the Benchmark 70 1200 metres here on 1 July, and contests the A$50,000 Benchmark 66 1400 metres. He races well at Sandown, and both of his career wins have come over 1400 metres. He won on a Heavy10 track three starts ago, and brings the right form to rate a top four chance. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.40. 

Main picture - The Mighty Spar returns a winner again