Te Akau Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has eleven horses racing on Saturday 14 March: Tauranga, Trentham, Caulfield (Melbourne), and Rosehill Gardens (Sydney).

Tauranga:

Weather: fine, track: Dead4, rail: true. No rain forecast.

2.15 p.m. R5 1 Griffin  (5 g Iffraaj - Double Elle) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); had trialled well for second before missing fresh-up in the Rating 72 1300 metres on 26 February at Hastings. He won three from six last season, each with Burdan aboard, claims to 59kgs in the $25,000 Rating 72 1400 metres and looking to recapture form from barrier one.

2.15 p.m. R5 7 Luminous  (4 m Reliable Man - Keenly) - Roy Kozaki; spelled in December and finished strongly for second when trialling on 25 February at Avondale. Stakes placed (Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m)) last season, she won over 1800 metres in the spring and look for her finding the line fresh-up in the $25,000 Rating 72 1400 metres. 

4.43 p.m. R9 1 Equinox (3 g Exceed and Excel - Our Ella Belle) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); gelded and freshened since contesting the 3YO 1200 metres on 12 January at Ellerslie, he won well at the trials on 3 March at Te Teko. The winner of three from nine, with ability to act fresh, he has weight relief to 56.5kgs and should go well from barrier two in the $25,000 3YO 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.50. 

4.43 p.m. R9 3 Phantom Witness (3 g Star Witness - Fandom) - Roy Kozaki; trialled very well before beginning his career with consecutive wins on the home track at Matamata, and steps up in the $25,000 3YO 1200 metres. Provided he does everything right, the credentials are there to prove very competitive again. Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.30. 

5.18 p.m. R10 2 You're Welcome  (4 g Camelot - Chorus of Angels) - Roy Kozaki; given time (27 days) since finishing fifth in the Maiden 2000 metres on 16 February at Gisborne, and contests the $22,500 Rating 65 2100 metres. Pretty consistent, a decent trip from barrier five rates him a top four chance. 

Trentham:

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

1.25 p.m. R3 5 Te AkauCaliburn  (5 h Camelot - Enchanted Evening) - Danielle Johnson; carried 60.5kgs to victory in the Rating 82 1550 metres on 7 February at Awapuni, before being unsuited by rain-affected (Slow7) footing in the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) on 22 February at Matamata. A winner over 2400 metres in the U.K., he meets a hardened field in the $50,000 Lincoln Farms New Zealand St Leger (Listed, 2600m) but should go well from barrier three. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.05.

3.15 p.m. R6 4 Star of Bombay  (3 f Atlante - Astardia) - Rosie Myers; continued her terrific form (three wins, second, and third, from five starts) winning the Mufhasa Fasttrack Stakes (Listed, 1300m) a fortnight ago (Derby Day) at Ellerslie, and ideally drawn (5) in the $100,000 Carfinance.co.nz Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). She has not missed a beat, brings top credentials, and should go well again in a smart field. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.40.

3.15 p.m. R6 6 Lilikoi  (3 f Charm Spirit - Barbadine) - Danielle Johnson; proved too good winning the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) in December at Awapuni, and freshened after finishing third in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 1 January at Ellerslie. She staged a big run for second when trialling on 25 February at Avondale, with Johnson aboard, and in contention with a decent trip from barrier eight in the $100,000 Carfinance.co.nz Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.40. 

3.15 p.m. R6 8 Exaltation  (3 f Not A Single Doubt - Meleka Belle) - Chris Johnson; impressed winning on debut over 1200 metres in October at Riccarton, beating subsequent dual winner Savvy Lad (Savabeel), with Johnson aboard, and produced an unbelievable fresh-up performance to win the Rating 65 1200 metres on 26 February at Hastings. A half-sister to stable-mate and Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands) (below), winner of 10 Group Ones, she strengthens the hand for trainer Jamie Richards in the $100,000 Carfinance.co.nz Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). Fixed odds: $16.00 & $3.70. 

Rosehill:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: true. 7mls rain forecast Saturday.

5.10 p.m. R5 5 Probabeel  (3 f Savabeel - Far Fetched) - Kerrin McEvoy; made history on 25 January at Ellerslie, becoming the first to win the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) a year after winning the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m). She turned the tables on race rival Funstar (Adelaide) with an unbelievable performance in the Surround Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 29 February at Royal Randwick, and contests the $200,000 Chandon Phar Lap Stakes (Gr. 2, 1500m). At her best on good footing, she has drawn ideally (5) to prove very competitive. NZ TAB fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.20. 

Caulfield:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 6 metres. 3mls rain forecast Friday afternoon, no rain Saturday.

6.45 p.m. (NZ time) R7 9 Melody Belle (5 m Commands - Meleka Belle) - Opie Bosson; recorded her 10^thGroup One with a brilliant victory in the $1m Empire Rose Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 2 November at Flemington, and came home following a big run for second in the $2m Mackinnon Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) on 9 November at Flemington. The reigning NZ Horse of the Year, she made history earlier in the season when becoming the first Hawkes Bay Triple Crown conqueror. She resumed here with a strong third in the Futurity Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 22 February and contests the $5 million All-Star Mile (Special Conditions, 1600m). Reported to have improved considerably, she is the ultimate professional and drawn (5) to threaten. NZ TAB fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90. 

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