Te Akau Super Saturday Preview
Date: 4 Mar 2022
Te Akau Racing 18 horses entered on Saturday 5 March: Ellerslie, and Wingatui.
Ellerslie:
Weather: overcast, track: Dead5, rail: true. No rain forecast.
12:58 p.m. R2 4 Te AkauCaliburn (7 g Camelot - Enchanted Evening) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); made ground from the rear in the Avondale Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) here on 19 February and contests the $70,000 Open 2200 metres. Handily drawn (5), with weight relief to 55.5kg, he is capable of further improvement. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.00.
1:33 p.m. R3 1 Prise De Fer (6 g Savabeel - Foiled) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); was solid when sixth in the Zabeel Classic (Gr. 1, 2000m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, and wound up late for fifth in the Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 29 January at Trentham. Freshened, he lifted well for third over a sprint trip when trialling on 23 February at Pukekohe, and contests the $70,000 Open 1500 metres. Ideally drawn (4), he enjoys weight relief to 59kg, and won the corresponding race last year. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.35.
1:33 p.m. R3 5 Perfect Scenario (4 g Iffraaj - Rosetti Bay) - Masa Hashizume (a2); shot away to score easily by three and a half lengths in a Rating 74 1550 metres on 11 February at Awapuni, and steps up in the $70,000 Open 1500 metres. With weight relief to 52kg, he jumps from barrier seven, and brings the right form to measure up - one of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.10.
1:33 p.m. R3 7 Aotea Lad (5 g Savabeel - Corsage) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); continued racing well despite being squeezed out late in an Open 1400 metres on 11 February at Awapuni, and steps up in the $70,000 Open 1500 metres. Placed two from three on the course, drawn (2) for an economical trip, he should remain competitive. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.40.
2:08 p.m. R4 1 On The Bubbles (3 g Brazen Beau - More Bubbles) - Johnathan Parkes; provided Te Akau with its fifth consecutive Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) last season - now six - and won the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m) here on Boxing Day. Unpressured finishing fourth in a trial on 23 February at Pukekohe, and contests the $80,000 Stella Artois Mufhasa Stakes (Listed, 1400m). He carries the top weight (59kg), but is ideally drawn (4) and is tops on his day - the first of a Te Akau duo contesting the event. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.30.
2:08 p.m. R4 4 I Wish I Win (3 g Savabeel - Make A Wish) - Michael McNab; made immediate impact last season, winning on debut before finishing second to stable-mate On The Bubbles (above) in the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), and proved too good, fresh-up, in a 3YO 1200 metres on Wellington Cup Day (29 Jan.) at Trentham. He closed strongly for second in a trial on 23 February at Pukekohe, and also contests the $80,000 Stella Artois Mufhasa Stakes (Listed, 1400m). He rates a top three prospect. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.55.
2:43 p.m. R5 8 Image of You (4 m Pins - Exactly Like You) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); rallied well for third on Slow7 going when resuming in a Rating 74 1400 metres on 12 February at Te Rapa, and steps up in the $60,000 Rating 74 1600 metres. She has put together a very good record this season and is ideally drawn (5) to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.
3:19 p.m. R6 1 Belle En Rouge (3 f Burgundy - Cavendish Belle) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); proved far too good winning the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, before finishing sixth to stable-mate and subsequent Lowland Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m) winner Self Obsession (Shocking) in the David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 12 February at Te Rapa. She is ideally drawn (4) in the $90,000 McKee Family Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m), she rates a top three contender - one of a Te Akau trio. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.
3:19 p.m. R6 7 Outfit (3 f Tivaci - Costume) - Johnathan Parkes; looked good in an exhibition gallop with stable-mate and Champion Two-Year-Old Sword of State (Snitzel) on 12 February at Te Rapa, and resumed with a strong finishing second to race rival Miss Ella (Iffraaj) in the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1600m) on 23 February at Pukekohe. She appears suited stepping up in trip for the $90,000 McKee Family Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m) and rates top three prospect. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.
3:19 p.m. R6 10 Invincibeel (3 f Savabeel - Matakana) - Kozzi Asano; was claimed late when finishing fourth in the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1600m) on 23 February at Pukekohe, and she too contests the $90,000 McKee Family Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m). She is also ideally drawn (2), is racing well, and is the type with the pedigree to appreciate this trip. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.00.
3:55 p.m. R7 3 Supreme Khan (4 g Mongolian Khan - Angelica Hall) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); spelled after a Rating 74 1400 metres during Cup Week at Riccarton, then ran on well for fifth in a trial on 14 February at Te Rapa, and resumes in the $60,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. Drawn the ace, with weight relief to 57kg, he has the ability to act fresh in a race that sports three stable starters. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.
3:55 p.m. R7 4 Lightning Field (5 g Deep Field - Claudine) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); produced a terrific victory in Rating 74 1200 metres on Legends Day (12 Feb.) at Te Rapa, and remains in the same grade for $60,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. Up in weight (58kg), he won a Maiden here with a big finish over 1300 metres and brings the right form to race well again with luck from the tricky draw (9). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.
3:55 p.m. R7 9 Navalha (3 g Sebring - Afiado) - Johnathan Parkes; came from last with a strong finish for fifth when resuming here in a Rating 74 1100 metres on 30 January, and sustained a big run near the rail for fourth in trial on 22 February at Cambridge (poly-track). Shown to act fresh, he shapes to race well with luck in running. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.
4:30 p.m. R8 1 Sword of State (3 c Snitzel - In the Vanguard) - Leith Innes; ended his two-year-old campaign racing clear to win the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) in March at Ellerslie, and resumed in NZ winning the Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) with a powerhouse finish here on 22 January. He picked up nicely to hold sway at the line when trialling on 23 February at Pukekohe, and contests the $100,000 Haunui Farm King's Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m). Champion Two-Year-Old last season, he warrants favouritism - one of a Te Akau duo contesting this event. Fixed odds: $2.20 & $1.15.
4:30 p.m. R8 8 Romantic Lady (5 m Power - Romantic Time) - Matthew Cameron; brought good form and genuine effort for fourth in the Concorde Handicap (Gr. 3, 1200m) here on Karaka Million night (22 Jan.). Off the trail with a strong finish for second at the trials on 22 February at Cambridge (poly-track), and also contests the $100,000 Haunui Farm King's Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m). She is ideally drawn (2) to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $51.00 & $6.00.
5:49 p.m. R10 1 Zeitaku (3 c Savabeel - Miss Opulence) - Ryan Elliot; capped good form coming from eighth with a big finish to win a Maiden 1400 metres in October at Te Rapa, and resumed there off a wide gate (13) in a Rating 65 1300 metres on 12 February, running the fastest last 600m (35.5) for second. Drawn the ace, he rates a top three chance in the $60,000 Rating 65 1400 metres - one of two in the race. Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.35.
5:49 p.m. R10 12 Dancarina (3 f Sebring - Dance for Me) - Matthew Cameron; ran the fastest last 600m (34.6) for third to stable-mate Highborn (Savabeel) - Te Akau first four - when debuting in a Maiden 1200 metres on 12 January at Matamata, and ran out a strong winner of Maiden 1400 metres on 9 February at Ruakaka. Despite drawing wide (12) in the $60,000 Rating 65 1400 metres she rates top three. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.70.
Wingatui:
Weather: overcast, track: Dead4, rail: out 2 metres from 1400m - 300m, remainder true. No rain forecast.
4:48 p.m. R9 2 Irish Red (3 f Burgundy - Niamh Elizabeth) - Jason Laking; clocked the fastest 600m (35.1) with top run for third the Gore Guineas (Listed, 1335m) on 22 January at Gore, but unsuited on Slow9 in Dunedin Guineas (Listed, 1500m) here on 5 February. Given time (28 days), she rates a top four prospect in $60,000 NZB Airfreight Stakes (Listed, 1400m). Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00.
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