Te Akau Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has horses racing at three venues on Saturday 18 April: three on the ten race premier programme at Ellerslie, six during the nine races at Hastings, and one on the nine race programme at Riccarton.

Ellerslie: 

As on Friday the conditions were: overcast and Dead5, rail true.

3.03 p.m. R7 14 Vive La Difference (3 f Choisir - L'Artiste) - Lisa Allpress; produced a solid last start effort in the Manawatu Classic (Gr. 3, 2000m) on Good3 footing at Awapuni, and one of seven from that race to front here for the Championship Stakes (Listed, 2100m). Drawn barrier one, with give in the ground, works to her advantage and she has the bonus of combining with a rider that scored twice in the Te Akau colours, aboard Imperium (Encosta De Lago) and Shillelagh (Savabeel), on Thursday at Woodville.

4.18 p.m. R9 10 Abidewithme (5 m Redoute's Choice - Crimson) - Michael McNab; staged a massive performance when coming from the rear, through the pack, for third on Easter Saturday in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Te Aroha, with this rider aboard. Kept fresh for the Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m), she could take up a slightly handier position from barrier four. She ran a cracker in the corresponding race last year on Dead5, after being checked at the 900m and running home strongly near the rail and strips in similar, if not better, shape this time - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

4.18 p.m. R9 17 Spellbinder (4 m O'Reilly - Scenic Sprint) - Matt Cameron; never appeared happy on the good footing in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Te Aroha, and receiving give in the ground, on a course where she has won three out of four, allows her the chance to turn her form around. She returned to her best with a resounding win two starts ago in the Open 1400 metres at Te Rapa, and having placed in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) she has the quality at best to prove competitive.

Hastings: 

As on Friday the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true.

11.46 p.m. R1 4 Xtravagant (2 c Pentire - Axiom) - Mark Sweeney; ran home solidly for third to subsequent impressive race winner Let Her Rip (Rip Van Winkle) in a trial over 800 metres on Feb. 24 at Matamata, and now makes his debut in the Maiden 2YO 1400 metres. A brother to Group one performer He's Remarkable, now standing at Mapperley Stud, this colt has the makings of a lovely three-year-old but warrants race day education on his efforts thus far. He will be given time to settle and look to run home powerfully - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

11.46 p.m. R1 9 Our Abbadean (2 f Lookin at Lucky - Highland Lights) - Patrick Holmes; did the job nicely when fifth in a recent trial over 950 metres at Cambridge, and like her stable-mate, above, she deserves her chance at race day experience before having a break. She too would likely settle off the pace and gives the impression she should be finding the line over the 1400 metres.

1.31 p.m. R4 8 Flirty Gertey (4 m Thorn Park - Granma Gertey) - Alysha Collett; had a pretty tough run for second to subsequent winner Illuminati (Keeper) when resuming off 91-days in the Rating 75 1400 metres on Dead5 at Rotorua. Stepping up in grade and distance for the Rating 85 1600 metres, but down in weight, she meets a well-credentialed field. As an underrated type, her performance will give trainer Jason Bridgman a good guide to her autumn aspirations.

2.43 p.m. R6 6 Angelica Hall (4 m Guillotine - Greta Hall) - Mark Sweeney; ran a slashing race in front before bowing to Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) favourite Vespa (Elusive City) in the Flying Handicap (Listed, 1400m) at Awapuni, and drops back in distance to contest the City of Napier Sprint (Listed, 1200m). From a wide gate, as was the case last time, she will probably slide forward to sit outside likely pacemaker Adventador (Fast ‘N' Famous) and the tempo of the race appears set to determine what happens in the straight - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

2.43 p.m. R6 7 Costa Viva (4 m Encosta De Lago - Vivacious Spirit) - to be advised; resumed off 143-days in the Rating 85 1200 metres at Te Aroha, looking the winner before her condition waned late and she settled for second. She registered a second to Bounding (Lonhro) in the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) at her only course attempt and with some luck from a wide gate she has the class to make her presence felt in this field.

3.18 p.m. R7 10 Bordeaux (3 g High Chaparral - Our Echezeaux) - Patrick Holmes; has been gelded since his first start and resumes off 143-days in the Maiden 1400 metres, having recently unwound a staying type run for second in a 1230-metre trial at Rotorua. His dam, Our Echezeaux (Zabeel), won over 1300 metres and has already left impressive winners Dolmabache and Pure Elegance, both by Redoute's Choice (Danehill), from the family of Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel), Darci Brahma (Danehill), Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), Romanee Conti (Sir Tristram) and Ethereal (Rhythm). He shapes as a nice staying type in the making and this appears an ideal starting point.

Riccarton: 

As on Friday the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true.

2.52 p.m. R6 3 No Tricks (3 f Savabeel - Mezaire) - David Walsh; came clear with her rival, Consensus (Postponed), when finishing second here last Saturday in the New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (Listed, 1600m) and has drawn the ace for the New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m). Improved footing from slow to dead should assist her in seeing out the trip, as too the stamina performers on the dam side of her pedigree.