Te Akau Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has eleven horses racing on Saturday 26 January: Trentham, Riccarton, and Ellerslie (twilight meeting).

Trentham:

As on Friday 25 January the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

12.32 p.m. R1 2 Equinox (2 c Exceed and Excel - Our Ella Belle) - Craig Grylls; won his only trial by nearly five lengths on 8 January at Cambridge, and debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 2YO 1000 metres. He has the gate speed to utilize barrier four and prove very competitive. By Danehill son Exceed and Excel, from high-class race mare Our Ella Belle (Encosta De Lago), he has the right pedigree to impress. Fixed odds: $1.90 & $1.10. 

Riccarton:

As on Friday 25 January the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail true. No rain forecast.

12.50 p.m. R3 5 Vino Bella(2 f Burgundy - Pinstinct) - Jason Laking; trialled stylishly before finishing fourth off a wide run on debut in October at Tauherenikau, and freshened since. She looked good when finishing second at the trials on 8 January at Cambridge, and resumes in the $22,500 NZB Peal Series 2YO 800 metres (eligible $8,000 bonus). She rates a top four chance from barrier four. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.40. 

Ellerslie (twilight meeting):

As on Friday 25 January the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true. No rain forecast.

5.16 p.m. R2 1 Sword of Osman(3 g Savabeel - Bunyah) - Opie Bosson; resumed with a convincing victory here on 13 January in the 3YO 1200 metres, ridden by Bosson, and ideally drawn (4) in the $70,000 Mongolian Khan Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m). A Group One, Two, and Three winner, including the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) here as a two-year-old, clearly highest rated sees him carrying 60.5kgs yet he appears very competitive again. Fixed odds: $2.30 & $1.28.

5.16 p.m. R2 8 Burgundy Belle(3 f Burgundy - Spin ‘N Grin) - Shafiq Rusof; dispatched her rivals with an impressive debut victory over 1100 metres on 6 December at New Plymouth, and remained unbeaten when winning the Rating 65 1200 metres on 29 December at Matamata. Up in class for the $70,000 Mongolian Khan Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m), a race won last year by stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands), she has what it takes to measure up from barrier two. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.10.

6.36 p.m. R4 1 Aotea Lad(2 g Savabeel - Corsage) - James McDonald; created an immediate impression with a debut victory in the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m) on 8 December at Trentham, and ran the fastest 600m (34.6) when finishing strongly for second to race rival Whiskey Neat (Denman) here in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 1 January. A strong and imposing type, he has blinkers on and the right rider to assist negating barrier 12 in the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30.

6.36 p.m. R4 5 Yourdeel(2 g Dundeel - Miss Zapper) - Matt Cameron; could hardly have been more impressive winning the 2YO 1200 metres by over five lengths on debut in December at Te Rapa, and followed with a very good effort for second here to stable-mate and race rival Probabeel (Savabeel) in the 2YO 1200 metres on 13 January. Matt Cameron retains the ride and luck from barrier 13 will see him competitive in the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.70.

6.36 p.m. R4 6 Louis Luck(2 g Dissident - My Option) - Shafiq Rusof; won the 2YO 1200 metres when debuting on 12 January at Trentham, gaining sufficient stake money in the process to make the field for the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m). He has a good pedigree, by a sire known for his tough qualities and those attributes should stand by him from barrier four. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.60.

6.36 p.m. R4 7 Challa (2 g Dissident - Are There Any) - Jonathan Riddell; was particularly unlucky not to break through when recording three short margin seconds from as many starts during a spring campaign at Riccarton, including the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m), and resumed finished seventh to stable-mates and race rivals Probabeel and Yourdeel here in the 2YO 1200 metres on 13 January. Drawn barrier five and blinkers on helps his chances in the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $91.00 & $19.00.

6.36 p.m. R4 11 Probabeel(2 f Savabeel - Far Fetched) - Opie Bosson; impressively won the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres by four and a half lengths on 1 December and again had to be special in order to win the 2YO 1200 metres on 13 January, both on this course with Bosson aboard. Drawn the outside barrier (14) in the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) stiffens the task, but she has won her races from off the pace and the likelihood of genuine speed could see her finishing more powerfully than most. Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.60.

*Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards has five horses in the Karaka Million, and seeking at hat-trick after Melody Belle (Commands) combined with Opie Bosson to win in 2017 and Avantage (Fastnet Rock), again with Bosson aboard, won last year - both named Champion Two-Year-Old.

7.48 p.m. R6 6 In A Twinkling(3 g Fastnet Rock - Moment in Time) - Shafiq Rusof; ran a very good race for fourth in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), but unable to wind up on Heavy10 here Boxing Day in the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m). He bounced back with a close fourth in the 3YO 1600 metres here on 13 January and drawn to receive a favourable trip in a strong field for the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m). Fixed odds: $51.00 & $9.00.

7.48 p.m. R6 9 Prise De Fer(3 g Savabeel - Foiled) - Opie Bosson; followed a commanding two length win in December over 1400 metres at Ruakaka, being relegated to second here in the 3YO 1600 metres here on 13 January, ridden by Bosson in both. Up in class to contest the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m), barrier two certainly assists his prospects in the strong field. Fixed odds: $31.00 & $6.75.

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