Te Akau Saturday Preview - NZ & Australia

Te Akau New Zealand has two horses racing at two venues on Saturday 3 June: Ellerslie, and Doomben.

Ellerslie:

As on Friday 2 June the conditions were: showery and Heavy11, rail out 7 metres. 13mls rain forecast Friday, 8mls Saturday morning.

3.29 p.m. R7 7 Rocksun (4 g Fastnet Rock - Beyond the Sunset) - Michael McNab; tracked up wide from sixth and closed solidly for fourth, just over one length from the winner, when resuming off 169 days in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 11 May at Hastings. Drawn barrier four in the $22,500 Rating 75 1400 metres, his two wins have been recorded over this distance and he appears capable of another bold performance if appreciative of the course and footing at his first attempt.

Doomben, Brisbane:

As on Friday 2 June the conditions were: fine and Good4, rail out 5 metres. No rain forecast and 21 degrees Saturday.

5.20 p.m. (NZ time) R6 6 Splurge (4 g Savabeel - Splashing Out) - Jason Collett; got back and never looked comfortable on heavy going in the BRC Sprint Handicap (Gr. 3, 1350m) here on 20 May, and from barrier nine he contests the $175,000 Ascot Green Moreton Cup (Gr. 2, 1200 metres). Winning six of his previous eight starts, including five over this distance, the key factor to his prospects is a return to reasonable footing. Stamping himself in the sprinting ranks with an impressive effort to win the Darley Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Derby Day in March at Ellerslie, on Good3, he has the class and quality to produce a much improved performance. Ex-pat Kiwi Jason Collett takes over from a suspended Opie Bosson. Fixed odds: $7.50.