Te Akau Super Saturday North South Preview

Te Akau Racing has 15 horses entered on Saturday 13 November: Tauranga and Riccarton.

Tauranga:

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. 6mls rain forecast Saturday.

1.50 p.m. R3 3 Phantom Witness (5 g Star Witness - Fandom) - Ryan Elliot; got back from a wide gate (15) and found the line without threatening in a Rating 74 1200 metres on 16 October at Hastings. Given time (28 days), he is course/distance placed at his only attempt and rates a top three prospect from barrier three in the $30,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

2.28 p.m. R4 1 The Mighty Spar (4 g Savabeel - O'Dianne) - Niranjan Parmar (a4); closed strongly when trialling on 26 October at Cambridge (poly-track). He powered home from last to win a Maiden 1400 metres in March at Matamata, has placed in both starts up in grade before spelling, and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. He has weight relief to 56kg, but requires luck from difficult draw (15). One of three in the race for the stable. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.50.

2.28 p.m. R4 5 Tauparae (4 m Savabeel - Matakana) - Leah Hemi; collected an additional $11,500 NZB Pearl Series Bonus when winning the Maiden 1300 metres in June at Cambridge (poly-track), and was fine through line when trialling there on 26 October. She ran the fastest last 600m (33.2) on the day for third when debuting over 1200 metres in March at Tauranga, but she too has copped a wide draw (14) and will also require luck the in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

2.28 p.m. R4 7 Charmaine's Dream (4 m Charm Spirit - Scatter Cat) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); was not far away after being caught wide when resuming in a Rating 65 1200 metres on 15 October at Te Aroha, and contests $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. A strong second-up winner over 1200 metres during Easter at Tauranga, she has weight relief to 54.5kg, but unbelievably she has drawn gate 13, inside her stablemates who jump from barriers 14 and 15 in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

3.38 p.m. R6 1 Brando (4 h Savabeel - Saoirse) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); rose to the task with a determined fresh-up win in the Open 1200 metres on 1 October at Te Rapa, but lacked finish in the Red Badge Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 16 October at Hastings. He maintained a solid gallop for a close second when trialling on 4 November at Matamata. Contesting the $40,000 Open 1400 metres, he is required to overcome the top weight (60kg) and is yet another with an awkward draw (9) to contend with. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.30.

4.13 p.m. R7 9 Mai Tai (5 m Atlante - Tropical Punch)- Joe Kamaruddin (a); dug deep to prevail in a close finish in the Open 1400 metres on 23 October at Matamata, and steps up in the $110,000 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m). She ended her previous campaign winning the Anzac Mile (Listed, 1550m) at Awapuni, has won six from 12, warrants respect underweight-for-age conditions and has drawn nicely with barrier four. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.50.

Riccarton:

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. 5mls rain forecast Saturday.

11.30 a.m. R1 2 Radegast (5 g Savabeel - Marveen) - Opie Bosson; ran a notable third in the  Rating 65 1400 metres on 16 October at Ashburton, and clocked the fastest last 600m (33.6) when finishing fourth here last Saturday in a Rating 65 1600 metres. Contesting the $25,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, scoring the same distance last December at Pukekohe, he rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.70. (Also entered race 9, second on ballot)

1.35 p.m. R5 16 Fashion Shoot (4 m Savabeel - High Fashion) - Danielle Johnson; continued her solid campaign with a strong finishing third here last Saturday in the Rating 74 1400 metres, and contests the $50,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fresh-up course/distance winner in September, she is ideally drawn (6) to race well again,. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

2.43 p.m. R7 3 Summer Monsoon (7 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Sanu Toolooa (a3); continued his outstanding form with powerful finish to win the Stewards' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) here on Wednesday and backs up in the $50,000 Open 1400 metres. Three times a winner at the trip, with weight relief to 57.5kg, he warrants respect again. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.40.

3.20 p.m. R8 1 Imperatriz (3 f I Am Invincible - Berimbau) - Danielle Johnson; made it four wins from five starts with a terrific effort in the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 23 October at Matamata, and contests the $300,000 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). A brilliant filly, she warrants favouritism but requires a huge amount of luck from barrier 15 - the first of five Te Akau runners in this iconic event. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.50.

3.20 p.m. R8 5 Belle En Rouge (3 f Burgundy - Cavendish Belle) - Michael McNab; raced away by three lengths in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1300 metres on 6 October at Taupo, and rose in class to produce a top third to Imperatriz (above) in the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 23 October at Matamata. She brings the right form to prove competitive from barrier seven in the $300,000 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.80.

3.20 p.m. R8 7 The Perfect Pink (3 f Savabeel - The Solitaire) - Opie Bosson; was eye-catching late when winning the NZB Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1300 metres on 22 September at Cambridge (poly-track), and closed strongly for fourth, posting the fastest 600m (34.1, to Imperatriz (above) in Soliloquy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 23 October at Matamata. Out of a mare that impressed winning over the course/distance, and from a 1000 Guineas producing family, she has creditably but requires luck from a tricky draw (13) in $300,000 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.

3.20 p.m. R8 10 Shepherd's Delight (3 f Rip Van Winkle - Safari Sunset) - Samantha Wynne; followed a close second over 1200 metres at Timaru, when proving too strong in the Maiden 1400 metres here on 23 October, and steps up in $300,000 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). She has the pedigree to run out a strong mile, is a course winner and has drawn (5) to receive an economical trip. Fixed odds: $31.00 & $6.00.

3.20 p.m. R8 12 Irish Red (3 f Burgundy - Niamh Elizabeth) - Jason Laking; finished third in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on 18 September and was notable when third again in a Maiden 1400 metres on 2 October, both at Riccarton, before posting an easy win here in the Maiden 1400 metres on 23 October. Stepping up in $300,000 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), she has drawn the ace (1) and has not put a foot wrong. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.00.

Te Akau bids to win its sixth 1000 Guineas after scoring last year with Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma), and its second Guineas double, joining Noverre (Savabeel) in 2000 Guineas last Saturday, and Risque (Darci Brahma) and Xtravagant (Pentire) in 2015.

4.30 p.m. R10 10 Leaderboard (7 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Kozzi Asano; ended his previous campaign winning consecutively to 2400 metres, but has been below his best in his last three outings. A capable staying horse, he is ideally drawn (3) in $250,000 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m). Fixed odds: $31.00 & $8.00.