Te Akau Super Saturday Preview
Date: 21 Feb 2020
Te Akau New Zealand has eight horses racing on Saturday 22 February: Matamata, Otaki, and Melbourne.
Matamata:
Weather: cloudy, track: Dead5, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Saturday.
2.10 p.m. R4 1 Cool Aza Beel (2 c Savabeel - Cool ‘N'
Sassy) - Michael McNab; recorded a strong win in the $1m Karaka Million
(Restricted Listed, 1200m) to give Te Akau a four-peat in the iconic race,
following Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands), Champion Two-Year-Old
Avantage (Fastnet Rock), and $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed,
1600m) winner Probabeel (Savabeel). Seeking to become the eighth Te Akau victor
in the $70,000 Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m), he is a short priced
commodity to oblige from barrier one. Fixed odds: $1.40 & $1.05.
2.10 p.m. R4 3 Need I Say More (2 g No Nay Never - Bo
Bardi) - Craig Grylls; cut a pretty pictured when debuting here (Feb. 2) with
an impressive victory in the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres. Although stepping up
immediately in the $70,000 Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m), he has the
attributes to prove a force from barrier two. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.10.
4.30 p.m. R8 1 Scott Base (5 g Dalghar - Extra
Celestial) - Michael McNab; came from well back when finishing third in the
Anniversary Handicap (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 11 January at Trentham, where he had won
the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m), and from third last with a big finish
(fast 600m: 33.8) for fourth to stable-mate Prise De Fer (Savabeel) in the
Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 1800m) on 1 February at New Plymouth. Back in class but up
in weight (60kgs) in the $50,000 Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes
(Listed, 2000m), he rates an each way chance. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.80.
4.30 p.m. R8 2 Te Akau Caliburn (5 h Camelot - Enchanted Evening) - Craig Grylls; carried
60.5kgs to victory in the Rating 82 1550 metres on 7 February at Awapuni, and
steps up in the $50,000 Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (Listed,
2000m). A staying horse that won over 2400 metres in the U.K., he struck winning
form at the right time and rates a top four chance with luck from the draw
(13). Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.70.
5.05 p.m. R9 1 Leaderboard (5 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Michael McNab; notched consecutive wins in the Rating 72 2000 metres during Cup Week at Riccarton, and resumed with a bright performance for second here in the Rating 72 1600 metres on 7 January at Matamata. He never fired last time in the Rating 82 2200 metres on 24 January at Te Aroha, but capable of bouncing back in the $25,000 Rating 72 2000 metres.
Otaki:
Weather: cloudy, track: Dead6, rail: true. 13mls rain forecast overnight Friday.
4.14 p.m. R7 5 Prise De Fer (4 g Savabeel - Foiled) -
Johnathan Parkes; continued enhancing his impeccable form when extending
beautifully to win the Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 1800m) on 1 February at New
Plymouth, having won the Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) on 1 January at
Ellerslie, and looking to make it six on end in the $200,000 Haunui Farm WFA
Group One Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m). He is racing terrifically and appears hard to
deny. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.40.
4.14 p.m. R7 9 Avantage (4 m Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Danielle Johnson; produced a big finish for second under 58.5kgs in the Hallmark Stud Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, and mixed both class and courage to win the Telegraph (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 18 January at Trentham. A Champion Two-Year-Old and million dollar earner, including victory in the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) and Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), she finished strongly for fourth to stable-mate Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) in the BCD Group Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) a fortnight ago at Te Rapa, and drawn (1) to threaten in the $200,000 Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m). Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.40.
Caulfield, Melbourne:
Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.
5.30 p.m. (NZ time) R6 7 Melody Belle (5 m Commands - Meleka
Belle) - Opie Bosson; recorded her 10th Group 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. She made history earlier in
the season to become the first Hawkes Bay Triple Crown victor and the reigning
NZ Horse of the Year has both the competitiveness and class to perform well
fresh-up in the $500,000 Futurity Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m). NZ TAB fixed odds:
$3.00 & $1.25.
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