Te Akau Saturday North Island Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses racing on Saturday 17 August: Te Rapa, and Otaki.

Te Rapa:

Weather: overcast, track: Slow9, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Saturday, before 6 p.m.

1.15 p.m. R2 1 Bak Da Master  (5 g Mastercraftsman - Bak Da Princess) - Opie Bosson; was brave here a fortnight ago when finishing second over 2100 metres after being caught a touch wide throughout, and contests the corresponding $22,500 Rating 65 2100 metres. Consistent and could beat this field. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.45.

3.35 p.m. R6 2 Te Akau Shark (5 g Rip Van Winkle - Bak Da Chief) - Opie Bosson; spelled following a six-length demolition in the Coupland's Bakeries Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) at Riccarton, with Bosson aboard, and has looked good winning two preparatory trials here in July. The winner of five from six, who clocked the fastest 600m when winning here on debut over 1100 metres on Heavy10, he will get back off a wide gate (11) in the $100,000 U S Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) but the prospect of a genuine pace could see him getting home with a rush. Fixed odds: $2.20 & $1.30.

3.35 p.m. R6 8 4.50 p.m. R8 9 Melody Belle  (5 m Commands - Meleka Belle) - Michael McNab; won this race fresh-up last year before going on to record five Group One victories during the season, culminating in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). Further matured for a spell, she has been good through the line in both her trials here and despite drawing the outside barrier (12) she brings a class factor and competitiveness to the $100,000 U S Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) that warrants respect. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.45.

Otaki:

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy10, rail: true. 20mls rain forecast Saturday.

12.57 p.m. R1 3 Richard of Yorke  (8 g Oasis Dream - Cascata) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); has been given time (35 days) since a narrow defeat in the Parliamentary Handicap (Open 2200m) at Trentham. Winning two of his last four starts, including a win here in May over 2100 metres on Heavy10, he receives weight relief to 55.5kgs, has a terrific affinity with the rider, and rates an each way chance in the $30,000 Rating 82 2100 metres. Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.25.

3.54 p.m. R6 6 English Rose (4 m Makfi - Bislieri) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); recorded a solid last start win here on 21 June in the Rating 65 2100 metres with Burdan aboard and freshened afterwards she looked in terrific order when finishing second in a trial on 29 July at Te Rapa. Up in grade for the $25,000 Rating 72 1600 metres, she receives weight relief to 52.5kgs and brings the right form to rate a top four chance. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.60. 

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