Te Akau Saturday North Island Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing on Saturday 12 October: Matamata, and Hawera.

Matamata:

Weather: showery, track: Heavy10, rail: true. Occasional showers forecast.

2.05 p.m. R4 4 Duck Road  (4 g Ekraar - Silver Buttons) - Opie Bosson; appeared unsuited at his only right-handed attempt when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 14 September at Ruakaka, and back on a left-handed course in the $22,500 Rating 65 1400 metres. He had fashioned a solid record, won a trial on heavy, and pedigree suggests he could handle the going better than most. Fixed odds: $17.00 & $5.00.

2.40 p.m. R5 8 Burgundy Belle  (4 m Burgundy - Spin ‘N Grin) - Opie Bosson; unwound a terrific finishing burst to win the Rating 72 1300 metres on 31 August at Hastings, and steps in grade for the $30,000 Rating 82 1200 metres. The winner of four from eight and three thirds, including an impressive course/distance victory, she has shown to act with give in the ground and rates an each way chance. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.85.

3.54 p.m. R7 11 Luminous  (4 m Reliable Man - Keenly) - Danielle Johnson; followed a big fresh-up run for second over 1300 metres at Taupo, proving too smart when winning there on 20 September over 1800 metres. Like Shezathinka (above), she too carried a high rating after finishing third last season in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) and as a consequence finds herself in the $30,000 Rating 82 2000 metres. Ideally weighted (54.5kgs) and drawn (3), she can measure up despite the class jump. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

Hawera:

Weather: cloudy, track: Dead6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

2.24 p.m. R5 3 In A Twinkling (4 g Fastnet Rock - Moment in Time) - Craig Grylls; was caught wide when resuming over 1400 metres and fought hard for fourth to subsequent Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) runner-up Peso (Colombia) (won by Melody Belle (Commands)) in the Open 2000 metres on 21 September at Hastings. Beaten a nostril in the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) before a fifth in both the Tulloch Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) at Rosehill, and ATC Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) at Randwick, he has the quality to prove competitive despite drawing wide (14) in the $40,000 South Taranaki Club Egmont Cup (Open, 2100m). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15.

3.00 p.m. R6 9 Don'tblamethemusic  (6 g Coats Choice - Blame the Music) - Rosie Myers; felt the pinch after working on pace when resuming in the Rating 72 1300 metres on 20 September at Taupo. Up in grade but down in weight (57kgs) for the $30,000 Rating 82 1400 metres, he has fashioned a good record, winning five times from 15 starts, and although a smart field his best should be competitive. Fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50.

4.45 p.m. R9 16 Rhapsody in Blue  (3 f Medaglia d'Oro - Kablues) - Craig Grylls; showed good attributes when capping solid form with victory at her third start in the Maiden 3YO 1300 metres on 20 September at Taupo, and contests the $22,500 Rating 65 1400 metres. Although stepping in grade and distance, she appears ideally placed to rate a top four chance from barrier four. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

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