Te Akau Ellerslie Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Saturday 19 February at Ellerslie.

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: out 7 metres. No rain forecast.

12:27 p.m. R1 10 Iff I Get Paaid (2 f Iffraaj - Vernal) - Opie Bosson; steadied back from an outside gate and ran home solidly for fifth when debuting here on Boxing Day in a 2YO 1100 metres, won by stable-mate Grace ‘N' Grey (Spirit of Boom), with subsequent Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winning stable-mate Dynastic (Almanzor) finishing second, also on debut. She rounded off solidly for fourth at the trials on 1 February at Cambridge (poly-track), and is ideally drawn (3) to race well in the Boys Get Paid colours in the $20,000 Maiden 2YO 1100 metres - one of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.55.

12:27 p.m. R1 11 Molly Shaw (2 f Burgundy - Belorussiya) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); quickened well for second when trialling on 1 February at Cambridge (poly-track), and debuts in the $20,000 Maiden 2YO 1100 metres. Her dam won twice to 1670 metres and placed 10 times. Missing out on racing at Taranaki yesterday, she takes her place here today. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $3.30.

1:02 p.m. R2 2 Quattro Quinta (3 g Darci Brahma - Quintette) - Opie Bosson; won twice last season including the Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1000m) and was runner-up in the Woburn Farm 2YO Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m) and the Fasttrack Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1100m). He was too good winning a trial here on 28 January and meets a race hardened field but he has the ability to match that with any favours from the tricky draw (11). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.20.

2:12 p.m. R4 4 Te Akau Caliburn (7 g Camelot - Enchanted Evening) - Kozzi Asano; received a check rounding the home turn before running on belatedly in the Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 2000m) on 11 February at Awapuni, and steps up in the $120,000 Wallen Concreting Avondale Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m). He has the minimum weight (52kg) and is ideally drawn (5) and seems capable of a bold run. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.80.

4:00 p.m. R7 12 The Perfect Pink (3 f Savabeel - The Solitaire) - Opie Bosson; headed home a Te Akau first four with a strong finish in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m).  She then resumed with a close second to subsequent impressive Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) winner and rival La Crique (Vadamos) in a 3YO 1500 metres on 9 January at Ellerslie, and posted the fastest 600m (34.7) for second to rival Field of Gold (Starspangledbanner) in the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 2 February at Te Rapa. Drawn the ace in the $120,000 AJC Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), she appears tough to beat. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.40.

4:35 p.m. R8 5 Amalfi Prince (3 g Sebring - Campania) - Opie Bosson; he posted notable seconds in his first two starts, was freshened, trialled, and found the line for fifth in a Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 2 January at Tauranga, before claiming the leader for a comfortable victory in a Maiden 1600 metres on 27 January at Hastings. Up in grade and distance for the $45,000 Rating 65 2100 metres, he has first four claims from barrier seven. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.