Te Akau Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing at three venues on Saturday 16 April.

Tauranga:

As on Friday 15 April the conditions were: fine and Slow8, rail out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

1.02 p.m. R2 1 Windborne (3 f Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby) - Craig Grylls; has been freshened since a very good third to No More Tears (Darci Brahma) in the $70,000 Mr Tiz Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) at Ellerslie. A dual stakes winner, the main concern in the $20,000 3YO 1200 metres centres around her ability to cope with slow footing but class should carry her along way.

1.02 p.m. R2 6 Tatters (3 f Tavistock - Rattle) - Reese Jones; displayed her ability and determination to prevail off a genuine clip in the Rating 65 1215 metres on Slow7 at Rotorua, second up from a spell, and should not be overawed after ending her previous campaign with a solid sixth in the $50,000 Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Ellerslie.

4.37 p.m. R8 13 Stella Di Paco (3 f Paco Boy - Savabeel Star) - Craig Grylls; came from last with strong late close for third to stable-mate Tatters (Tavistock) in the Rating 65 1215 metres on Slow7 at Rotorua, when also second up from a spell, and increases in distance for the Rating 65 1400 metres. As a two-year-old, she won the Castletown Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on slow footing and should strike conditions to suit.

Hastings:

As on Friday 15 April the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true. No rain forecast.

3.08 p.m. R6 3 Silverdale (6 g Castledale - Elianto) - Darryl Bradley; produced a courageous effort when unsuited on Heavy10 in the $100,000 Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2000m), with this rider aboard, and takes his place in the $75,000 Hawkes Bay Gold Cup (Listed, 2200m). He races very well on this course, including two victories, but will need luck from a wide draw.

3.43 p.m. R7 11 Smashing (4 m Pins - Ruud Van Slaats) - Cameron Lammas; gained her first stakes placing with a slashing run for third in the $50,000 Lightning Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Trentham, and against similar rivals contests the $50,000 NZB Finance Sprint (Listed, 1200m). A wide draw makes it difficult, but she has the brilliance with luck in running.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 15 April the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail out 6 metres. No rain forecast.

3.32 p.m. R7 5 Princess Davone (3 f Iffraaj - Nikey Davone) - Doni Prastiyou; has been freshened since solid performances during the southern three-year-old series and off 42 days contests the $50,000 NZB Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1600m). Likely to encounter a full field of seventeen, and drawn wide herself, she has stakes placed on four occasions and boasts a very good record on this course. Outside of race favourite Goodsav (Savabeel), the odds should be generous.