Te Akau Saturday Preview - NZ & Australia

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing at three venues on Saturday 17 September.

Hastings:

As on Friday 16 September the conditions were: cloudy and Dead5, rail out 2.5 metres. 4mls rain forecast 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. race day.

3.16 p.m. R6 6 Sassy ‘N' Smart (3 f Smart Missile - Panorama Ridge) - Matt Cameron; produced two notable trials at Te Teko, and has visor blinkers on to resume off 168 days in the $70,000 Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). The Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) winner had her chances thwarted by rain in the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) in April, after breaking 34 seconds for the last 600m behind stable-mate Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) in the Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m), and she has the ability to prove competitive with a good passage from barrier six.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 16 September the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 6 metres. No rain forecast.

12.35 p.m. R1 7 Carmenize (4 m Any Suggestion - Zevita) - Michael McNab; finished fifth after leading when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres at Ashburton, and improved fitness, on better going, should assist her chances in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres.

2.26 p.m. R4 11 Imperium (5 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal) - Michael McNab; is ready to race following two preparatory trials at Te Teko, resuming off a lengthy spell in the $22,500 Rating 75 1400 metres. He showed determination in winning fresh up over a mile last September at Te Rapa and, although destined for staying distances, an encouraging performance is sought.

4.09 p.m. R7 6 O'Naturelle (3 f O'Reilly - Naturo) - Michael McNab; made ground stylishly to win on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres at Taupo, and steps immediately into stakes' territory for the $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m). Won last year by stable-mate Windborne (Darci Brahma) and the year prior by her full sister Darci's Dream, O'Naturelle is the $2.90 fixed odds favourite to go back-to-back and the race shapes as a thrilling contest.

4.09 p.m. R7 9 Play for Time (3 f Foxwedge - Procrastinate) - Alysha Collett; trialled up nicely, including a close second to stable-mate O'Naturelle at Te Teko, before finishing second on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres at Ashburton. Drawn handily in barrier three, she has visor blinkers added and could go better than the $16.00 opening price suggests.

Caulfield, Melbourne:

As on Friday 16 September the conditions were: overcast and Soft7, rail out 9 metres. No rain forecast.

12.00 p.m. (NZT 2.00 p.m.) R1 11 Shillelagh (5 m Savabeel - Trocair) - Damien Oliver; was scheduled to resume in the $40,000 Benchmark 84 Fillies and Mares 1200 metres last Wednesday at Sandown with Oliver aboard but the meeting was abandoned. She now takes her place in the $64,500 Rating 78 1200 metres, drawn barrier thirteen. She was most impressive when winning her previous start in $22,500 Rating 75 1200 metres on Dead4 at Ruakaka, where she clocked 1:10.7 and ran the fastest final 600m (34.4) of the meeting. A classy mare that has won four of her six starts, she acts fresh and opened a $3.80 favourite.

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