Te Akau Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Saturday 2 December: Ellerslie, and Wanganui.

Ellerslie:

As on Friday 1 December the conditions were: cloudy and Dead4, rail out 3 metres. 1 ml rain forecast Saturday afternoon.

4.56 p.m. R5 3 Motivation (3 g Mastercraftsman - Tenacity) - Michael McNab; followed smart trial performances with a dominant debut win in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 14 November at Te Aroha, and immediately steps in class to contest the $50,000 Trevor Eagle Memorial (Listed, 1500m). Meeting six other last start winners in a field of 12, stacked with solid form, he certainly warrants his place and should receive an ideal run from barrier three. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00.

5.30 p.m. R6 17 Don'tblamethemusic (4 g Coats Choice - Blame the Music) - Michael McNab; received no room in the straight when resuming in the Rating 75 1215 metres on 21 October at Rotorua, and after working to lead he was claimed late to finish fourth in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 12 November at Hastings - a slickly run race. The winner of two from four starts, he receives an ideal opportunity to secure a soft trip from barrier one in the $30,000 Rating 75 1400 metres and has the addition of side winkers and a tongue tie. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $6.20.

6.10 p.m. R7 4 Splurge (5 g Savabeel - Splashing Out) - Michael McNab; ran the identical last 600m (34.3) to the winner, Natuzzi (Coats Choice), when closing from last to finish third in the Open 1400 metres on 18 November at Tauranga, having found the line late for third on the same course a fortnight earlier in the Open 1300 metres. Increasing trip in the Eagle Technology Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), he is unbeaten in three starts on the course, including the Darley Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m), won at a mile, and has the class to be competitive from barrier three. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.80.

Wanganui:

As on Friday 1 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true. 3mls rain forecast Friday and 1.5mls Saturday afternoon.

3.56 p.m. R7 5 Hushed (7 g Don Eduardo - Danewhisper) - Samantha Wynne; ran a great race when carrying top weight (60kgs) in to second on Melbourne Cup Day in the Rating 85 2200 metres at Ellerslie, third up from a spell, and tackles the $50,000 Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2040m). He ran the fastest final 600m (34.5) despite the weight impost last time and appears an each way chance in this field with a smooth trip from barrier eight. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.60.