Te Akau Super Trentham Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on Saturday 19 March at Trentham.

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

2:19 p.m. R4 4 Leaderboard (7 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Ryan Elliot; finished fifth off a handy trip in a Rating 74 2000 metres on 26 February at Matamata, won by stable-mate Exaltation (Not A Single Doubt), and he steps up in the $60,000 Barneswood Farm New Zealand St Leger (Listed, 2500m). Ideally drawn (4), the distance should suit following his very good third in the New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m). Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

2:53 p.m. R5 4 Mai Tai (5 m Atlante - Tropical Punch)- Kozzi Asano; beaten only a nose in the Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, she worked to race outside the leader in the Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) here on 29 January. Given time (49 days), she cruised up to win a trial on 1 March at Avondale, and rates a top three chance from barrier four in the $80,000 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m). She is owned by race sponsor, so a win would be totally fitting. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.90.

3.33 p.m. R6 1 On the Bubbles (3 g Brazen Beau - More Bubbles) - Johanathan Parkes; provided Te Akau with a fifth consecutive Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) last season - now six - and then won the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie. He extended his record to six from 10 winning the Mufhasa Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Derby Day (5 March) at Ellerslie, and is ideally drawn (2) to rate top three prospect in $260,000 Wellington Seamarket Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) - a race with five Te Akau contenders. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.60.

3.33 p.m. R6 3 I Wish I Win (3 g Savabeel - Make A Wish) - Kozzi Asano; made immediate impact last season, winning on debut before finishing second to stable-mate On the Bubbles (above) in then Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), and then proved too good, fresh-up, in a 3YO 1200 metres on Wellington Cup Day (29 Jan.) at Trentham. He ran the fastest last 600m (33.5) for second, again to On the Bubbles in the Mufhasa Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Derby Day (5 March) at Ellerslie, and rates a top three prospect in the $260,000 Wellington Seamarket Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.80.

3.33 p.m. R6 4 Mohawk Brave (3 g Extreme Choice - Ben's Duchess) - Craig Grylls; appeared smart when winning his first two starts and resumed with a big run from last in the Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Karaka Million night (22 Jan.) at Ellerslie, won by stable-mate Sword of State (Snitzel). His trademark acceleration was used to good effect winning a 3YO 1400 metres on 2 March at Hastings. In great form, he strengthens the hand for the stable in the $260,000 Wellington Seamarket Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $3.60.

3.33 p.m. R6 6 Zeitaku (3 c Savabeel - Miss Opulence) - Jason Laking; 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 Rating 65 1300 metres on 12 February, running the fastest last 600m (35.5) for second. He ran the fastest last 600m (34.0) for second to subsequent winner Three Sixty (Power) in a Rating 65 1400 metres on Derby Day (5 March) at Ellerslie after jumping late, and adds another prong to the five-strong Te Akau attack in the $260,000 Wellington Seamarket Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m). Fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.20.

3.33 p.m. R6 8 Imperatriz (3 f I Am Invincible - Berimbau) - Michael McNab; finished a close fourth to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 13 November at Riccarton - a Te Akau first four. She resumed with the fastest last 600m (33.6) on the day for second to stable-mate Sword of State (Snitzel) in the Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Karaka Million night (22 Jan.) at Ellerslie, and posted a devastating five length win, running the fastest 600m on the day (34.1), in the Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m) on 26 February at Matamata. She rates a top three chance in the $260,000 Wellington Seamarket Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) for which she is the current favourite. Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.30.

4:08 p.m. R7 4 Top Brass (6 g Epaulette - Highlight) - Ryan Elliot; quickened easily on the bridle to win a trial on 14 February at Te Rapa, before an uncustomary blunder at the start in an Open 1200 metres on 26 February at Otaki, won by stable-mate and race rival Burgundy Rose (Burgundy). Up in class for the $60,000 Race A Horse with Te Akau No. 1 Stable Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m), he is talented and has drawn the ace. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

4:08 p.m. R7 5 Burgundy Rose (5 m Burgundy - Paraiba) - Kozzi Asano; ran an unofficial track record winning a Rating 74 1215 metres on 6 January at Rotorua, but tied up on slow ground at Te Rapa, before sustaining a big finish to win an Open 1200 metres on 26 February at Otaki. Up in class for the $60,000 Race A Horse with Te Akau No. 1 Stable Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m), she too is ideally drawn (4), and has won two of her last three. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

4:50 p.m. R8 1 Self Obsession (3 f Shocking - Mawaakib) - Michael McNab; won the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, followed with victory in the David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 12 February at Te Rapa, and made it four consecutive stakes' wins when claiming the Lowland Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m) on 2 March at Hastings. Stepping up in distance appears ideal and she warrants favouritism in the $400,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) - the first of three in the race for the stable. Fixed odds: $2.30 & $1.30.

4:50 p.m. R8 2 The Perfect Pink (3 f Savabeel - The Solitaire) - Kozzi Asano; headed home a Te Akau first four with a strong finish in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), she then resumed with a close second in a 3YO 1500 metres on 9 January at Ellerslie. Subsequently, she ran the fastest 600m (34.7) for second in the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 2 February at Te Rapa, before finishing sixth in the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m). She has no shortage of ability, but requires right trip from her tricky draw (11) in the $400,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.20.

4:50 p.m. R8 3 Belle En Rouge (3 f Burgundy - Cavendish Belle) - Jason Laking; proved far too good winning the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, before finishing sixth to stable-mate Self Obsession (above) in the David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 12 February at Te Rapa. Sixth in Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m), won by race rival Bellatrix Black (Redwood) on Derby Day (5 March) at Ellerslie, she is drawn (3) for a soft trip in the $400,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). Fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.80.