Te Akau Saturday North Island Preview

Te Akau Racing has 8 horses entered on Saturday 10 September: Ruakaka, and Hastings.

Ruakaka:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 8 metres. No rain forecast.

2:26 p.m. R5 2 Cognito (3 g So You Think - Lady Primrose) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); sustained good a gallop for third in a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa, before storming home to win on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 24 August at Taupo, with Parmar aboard. Stepping up in the $30,000 3YO 1400 metres, he is ideally drawn (2), enjoys weight relief to 54kg, and rates a top three contender if appreciative of the course at his first attempt - one of two in the race for the stable. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $1.85.

2:26 p.m. R5 3 Stonybreck(3 g Tavistock - Fair Isle) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); debuted winning a Maiden 970 metres in track record time on 3 August at Cambridge (poly-track), and circled from last with a strong finish for fourth to stable-mate Fellini (Belardo) in the 3YO Colts & Geldings 1100 metres on 24 August at Taupo. Drawn out (7) in the $30,000 3YO 1400 metres, he too rates a top three chance with a decent trip. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.30.

2:58 p.m. R6 4 La Flora Belle (5 m Iffraaj - Tsarina Belle) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); looked very good finishing second in two preparatory trials and ran the fastest last 600m (35.5) when resuming in the Rating 75 1300 metres on 24 August at Taupo, won by stable-mate Perfect Scenario (Iffraaj). Ideally drawn (3) in the $60,000 Rating 82 Fillies & Mares 1600 metres, she is capable of a top three finish if appreciative of the course at her first look. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.75.

Hastings:

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy10, rail: true. Showery, 5mls rain forecast Friday, 16mls Saturday.

2:04 p.m. R5 1 Dynastic (3 c Almanzor - Meir) - Opie Bosson; stretched out beautifully winning the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) in January at Ellerslie - the sixth consecutive winner of the race for Te Akau. he has trialled twice in preparation to resume in the $80,000 El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m), however has drawn out (9). He is a class horse but his ability to act on the heavy ground is pivotal - the first of a stable trio contesting the event. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.30.

2:04 p.m. R5 2 Fellini (3 g Belardo - Silke Top) - Craig Grylls; had a terrific juvenile season, winning twice and finishing third to stable-mate Dynastic (above) in the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m). He sprinted hard to win fresh-up in the 3YO Colts & Geldings 1100 metres on 24 August at Taupo, running fastest last 600m (34.5) on the day, and steps up in the $80,000 El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m). Very genuine winning three from five, he is however yet to strike footing of such a testing nature, which raises the question-mark . Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.30.

2:04 p.m. R5 3 Lord Cosmos (3 g Pierro - Cosmic Powers) - Michael McNab; has run the fastest last 600m in each of his last three starts: ending his previous campaign winning the 2YO Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Te Rapa, and twice at Ruakaka, most recently when third in the Northland Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). He has however drawn the outside gate (11) in the $80,000 El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m), and like his two stablemates above, much depends on his appreciation of the heavy footing. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.50.

3:14 p.m. R7 7 Sans Doute (3 f Not A Single Doubt - My Prerogative) - Opie Bosson; looked very good winning all three trials and finished a close second to race rival Best Seller (Wrote) when debuting in the 3YO Fillies 1100 metres on 24 August at Taupo. A filly with obvious ability, she rates a top three prospect in the $100,000 HB/PB Thoroughbred Breeders' Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.45.

4:28 p.m. R9 8 Imperatriz (4 m I Am Invincible - Berimbau) - Opie Bosson; resumed with a strong winning performance in the Open 1100 metres on 6 August at Ruakaka, and made it five in a row with devastating acceleration in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 27 August at Te Rapa. Twice a Group One winner, and recently crowned Champion 3YO, she is suited by the weight-for-age scale, and looks the horse to beat in the $300,000 Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m). Fixed odds: $1.50 & $1.05.