Te Akau Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has nine horses racing on Saturday 27 January: Ellerslie, and Riccarton.

Ellerslie (twilight meeting):

As on Friday 26 January the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail true. 1ml rain forecast race day.

4.41 p.m. R1 1 Melody Belle (3 f Commands - Meleka Belle) - Opie Bosson; won the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) at the corresponding meet last year, with Bosson aboard, and subsequently crowned Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old for her feats last season. Ideally drawn (2) in the $70,000 3YO 1200 metres, she led and was squeezed out late in the Sistema Railway (Gr. 1, 1200m) here on 1 January and although afforded top weight (57kgs) has the class to threaten. Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.20.

6.36 p.m. R4 1 Embellish (3 c Savabeel - Bling) - Opie Bosson; provided Te Akau with their sixth 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) in November at Riccarton, and resumed with a notable fourth to subsequent group one winning stable-mate Age of Fire (Fastnet Rock) in the 3YO 1400 metres here on Boxing Day. In a field boasting terrific form for the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Listed, 1600m), he has been working well and just requires the right trip from barrier 13 to test his rivals. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.70.

7.16 p.m. R5 8 Our Abbadean (5 m Lookin At Lucky - Highland Lights) - Opie Bosson; has been freshened since contesting the Canterbury Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) in November at Riccarton, and drawn barrier 11 in the $100,000 Westbury Classic (Gr. 2, 1400m). Although impressing over 2200 metres at the end of her previous campaign, she charged home to almost claim stable-mate Royal Success (Savabeel) fresh-up in the Rating 85 1400 metres in October at Rotorua, and ridden patiently she could be storming at the business end. Fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.50.

7.51 p.m. R6 2 Al Hasa (2 c Exceed and Excel - Oasis Rose) - Hugh Bowman; produced a scintillating performance to win the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) on New Zealand Cup Day in November at Riccarton, and should have lost no admirers when resuming with a fourth in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) here on 1 January. A strong, quality colt, with talent to match, he also has the services of a world-class rider in the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.90.

7.51 p.m. R6 5 Sword of Osman (2 g Savabeel - Bunyah) - Michael McNab; bounced into $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) calculations following an impressive debut win in the 2YO Premier 1100 metres on 23 December at Awapuni, with McNab aboard. He has since galloped on the course, appears a top-line horse in the making, and the right trip from barrier nine should see him firmly in the mix. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.20.

7.51 p.m. R6 8 Avantage (2 f Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Opie Bosson; made it three from three when winning the NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO 1200 metres here on 14 January, with Bosson aboard, and ideally drawn (5) in the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m). Able to take a comfortable position just behind the speed, she is a classy filly and could be judged amongst those likely to finish the strongest. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.65.

7.51 p.m. R6 10 Pinot Grey (2 f Burgundy - Streaming) - Cameron Lammas; hardly turned a hair when winning impressively on debut in the 2YO 1000 metres in November at Otaki, and followed with a notable fourth to subsequent Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) winner Melt (Iffraaj) in the Ashford Lodge Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Pukekohe. Freshened, she finished third to stable-mate Avantage (above) here on 14 January, has blinkers and a tongue tie on and drew barrier one in the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.80.

7.51 p.m. R6 12 The Real Beel (2 f Savabeel - Ahna) - Danielle Johnson; won her only trial before showing speed from the outside gate (7) and displayed classy attributes during her impressive debut win in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres on 27 December at New Plymouth. Drawn the outside barrier (14) again in the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m), she has the services of a polished rider, fresh from winning the Woodville Cup aboard stable-mate Wide Awake (Savabeel) on Thursday, and does not lack for ability. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.80.

In a rare feat, Te Akau has five of the 14 runners in the highly prestigious Karaka Million and notably all were purchased last year by Te Akau principal David Ellis.

At the conclusion of the meeting, and with all the yearling sales inspections completed, the Te Akau Racing team is looking forward to buying yearlings at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series (commencing 5 p.m. Sunday 28 January) at Karaka.

David and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis MNZM) welcome all expressions of interest at any time, before, during, and after the sales.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 26 January the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail true. No rain forecast.

3.58 p.m. R8 10 Vinevale (5 m Flying Spur - Eden Valley) - Courtney Barnes; continued her good form with a notable fourth when trekking south for the Timaru Cup (Listed, 1600m) on 28 December at Timaru, and has pleased in her work since. Ideally drawn (3) in the $50,000 Timaru Stakes (Listed, 1400m) she stands out as a good each way chance again. Fixed odds: $5.20 & $1.90.