Te Akau Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Saturday: Rotorua, and Trentham (NZ Oaks Day)

Rotorua:

As on Friday 16 March the conditions were: overcast and Dead5, rail out 1.5 metres. No rain forecast.

4.40 p.m. R8 11 Unfazed (4 m Zabeel - Fazed) - Shafiq Rusof; raced clear to win the Rating 65 1400 metres by four lengths on 22 February at Wairoa, and denied an opportunity to threaten when backing up there three days later. Drawn wide (11) in the $25,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, her only course attempt resulted in a 3.8-length Maiden win over this trip and she strips in the right fettle to prove competitive with luck in running. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.85.

Trentham:

As on Friday 16 March the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail true. 1ml rain forecast Friday night, no rain Saturday.

3.38 p.m. R6 13 Paulownia (3 f Fastnet Rock - Forest Native) - Michael McNab; displayed considerable talent to win all three trials, and clocked the fastest final 600m (33.7) when circling from the rear to win on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 28 February at Pukekohe. A sister to Champion second season sire in Australia, Foxwedge, and in training for Coolmore, she has drawn the outside barrier (13) in the $100,000 Phill Cataldo Bloodstock Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) but has the talent to figure with luck. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.00.

4.18 p.m. R7 5 Heroic Valour (4 h Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Vinnie Colgan; produced another creditable performance for second in the $100,000 Darley Stallions Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Derby Day at Ellerslie, so continuing his very good form through five starts in this campaign. He ran one of the fastest last 600m (32.6) when finishing fifth here two starts ago in the $250,000 Telegraph (Gr. 1, 1200m) and despite drawing wide (12) in the $50,000 Te Akau Racing Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m) he warrants respect. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.50.

4.58 p.m. R8 12 Swing Note (3 f Encosta De Lago - Andallthatjazz) - Opie Bosson; has drawn barrier 10 in the $400,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). In the lead-up race: Lowland Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m) on 1 March at Hastings, won by race favourite and rival Savvy Coup (Savabeel), she was posted three wide throughout and to her credit kept finding the line for fourth. During the spring, she finished third in the Zacinto Stakes (Listed, 1600m) and notable fifth in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Riccarton. She provides the stable with a live chance of capturing their second Oaks, following Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) in 2007, and the rider his fifth. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.00.