Te Akau Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has thirteen horses racing on Saturday 6 October: Hastings, and Riccarton.

Hastings:

As on Friday 5 October the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true. Showers forecast race day morning.

2.50 p.m. R5 1 Sword of Osman (3 g Savabeel - Bunyah) - Opie Bosson; performed below his best when resuming in the Northern Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 15 September at Ruakaka, and has side winkers added in the $100,000 Sacred Falls Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). As a two-year-old, he was incredibly dominant winning the Matamata Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m), at his third start, and then proved too good in the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m. An exciting galloper, he pleased Bosson in his work on Tuesday and is ideally drawn in barrier one to bounce back. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.

4.35 p.m. R8 10 Our Abbadean (6 m Lookin At Lucky - Highland Lights) - Opie Bosson; could not have resumed in better fashion when finishing third in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400 metres) on 1 September, and followed with an equally as compelling performance to track through strongly from last for fifth in the Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 22 September - both races won by stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands). Narrowly beaten in the Hawkes Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m) here in April, she will appreciate the increased distance in the $250,000 Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.70.

5.10 p.m. R9 11 Te Akau Shark (4 g Rip Van Winkle - Bak Da Chief) - Michael Coleman; resumed with a super effort to win the Rating 82 1200 metres here on 1 September, running the fastest last 600m (34.6) on the day. Fourth to stable-mate Embellish (Savabeel) in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), he has won three of his four starts, possesses sheer athleticism, and pleased Coleman in his work on Tuesday. He requires luck from barrier 11 in the $70,000 Red Badge Spring Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m), but the likelihood of a competitive pace should see him storming home. Fixed odds: $2.90 & $1.35.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 5 October the conditions were: overcast and Good3, rail out 8 metres. 3mls rain forecast Friday, no rain race day.

12.10 p.m. R2 11 Publicist (3 c Redoute's Choice - Valadon) - Lisa Allpress; kept finding the line to finish third here on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres and three weeks later contests the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres. Bred to appreciate stepping in distance, he has a wide draw (14) to overcome but appears an each way hope with the right trip.

12.45 p.m. R3 2 Challa (2 c Dissident - Are There Any) - Lisa Allpress; finished close up without being asked for too much when trialling on heavy going in August at Te Teko, and debuts from barrier one in the $22,500 2YO 800 metres. His dam, Are There Any (Exceed and Excel), was a debut winner over 1310 metres on Good3 in Australia, winning six times up to 2040m, while Dissident (Sebring) also won on debut on Good3 over 1000 metres, recording five Group One wins among seven victories up to a mile. He can use the draw and should go well.

12.45 p.m. R3 6 Puysegur (2 f Fastnet Rock - Pins ‘N' Needles) - Jason Laking; debuts from barrier five in the $22,500 2YO 800 metres. A three-quarter sister to Champion Two-Year-Old and stable-mate Avantage (Fastnet Rock), her dam, Pins ‘N' Needles (Pins), won six races to a mile, has left three individual winners of 10 races, including stakes winning, Group One placed, Asavant (Zabeel), the dam of Avantage, and Group One winner D B Pin (Darci Brahma) in Hong Kong. Although without a trial, she has prepared well for the assignment.

1.20 p.m. R4 1 Bak Da Master (4 g Mastercraftsman - Bak Da Princess) - Jason Laking; rounded out a hat-trick of wins for trainer Jamie Richards on 30 August at Ashburton - following Swing Note (Encosta De Lago) and Summer Monsoon (Stratum) - with a tidy fresh-up victory in the Maiden 1600 metres, and finished fourth after being taken on in front in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 13 September at Wingatui. A consistent performer, he should be suited stepping in distance for the $22,500 Rating 65 2000 metres.

1.55 p.m. R5 1 Richard of Yorke (7 g Oasis Dream - Cascata) - Corey Campbell (a3); fought solidly for fifth after peaking on his run when resuming here in the $25,000 Rating 72 1600 metres on 8 September, and claiming to 58kgs he contests the corresponding event from barrier five. A winner on slow and heavy ground over 2400 metres, at Royal Ascot, Sandown, and Randwick. He is destined to step up in trip but should go well if appreciative of the going. Fixed odds: $9.80 & $3.00.

1.55 p.m. R5 5 Wide Awake (5 g Savabeel - Kay's Awake) - Andrew Calder; resumed here a fortnight ago with a notable effort for fourth in the Rating 72 1400 metres and steps up in $25,000 Rating 72 1600 metres. He came of age during his four-year-old season with two wins, including victory in the Woodville Cup (2100m), two seconds, and a third, and rates an each way chance with the right trip from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.40.

2.30 p.m. R6 1 Our Flying Ace (3 g Darci Brahma - Aterballetto) - Jason Laking; created a very good impression winning on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 13 September at Wingatui. From the classy Pencarrow Stud family of Group Two & Three winner Rasa Lila (Darci Brahma) and Group Three winner Posavina (Tiger Hill), he faces a far stronger field in the $25,000 3YO 1400 metres but the manner of his first up win suggests he can measure up. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.20.

4.15 p.m. R9 1 Remington (4 g Darci Brahma - Kudamm) - Jake Bayliss; made it two wins and three seconds from five starts with a fresh-up victory here in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 22 September, and contests the $25,000 Rating 72 1200 metres. He was dominant over a good field last time and with the right trip from barrier 10 can be afforded an each way chance again. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.40.

4.15 p.m. R9 6 Devil May Care (5 g Lonhro - Devil's Song) - Jason Laking; closed solidly from the rear for fifth, on a tempo that made it difficult to finish closer, when resuming here in the $25,000 Rating 72 1200 metres on 8 September. He went out a winner in April, recording two wins from his last three starts (clocking the fastest final 600m of the day in each of those races). Given time (28 days), he will again be ridden patiently in the corresponding event and the advent of a stronger pace can see him threaten a handy field. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30.

4.50 p.m. R10 12 In A Twinkling (3 g Fastnet Rock - Moment in Time) - Jason Laking; produced a big effort fresh-up to beat a competitive field in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 12 September at Matamata, and contests the $25,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. Drawn wide (16) dictates a patient ride, which suits the horse, and the right trip can see him in the finish.