Te Akau Taranaki Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 17 horses entered on Friday 17 February at New Plymouth. 

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft6, rail: out 2 metres 800m - 400m, remainder true. 3mls rain forecast Thursday and no rain Friday. 

12:26 p.m. R1 14 Elegant Lady (3 f Highly Recommended - Lady Masako) - Michael McNab; she followed two seconds with a notable effort coming from last to finish fifth here on 4 February in the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m), won impressively by stable-mate Family Ties (Contributer). Back in class, she rates a top three chance in the $14,000 Maiden 1900 metres.

1:00 p.m. R2 1 Espionage (4 g Savabeel - Bayrock) - Craig Zackey; he resumed with a strong run for second in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres on 2 January at Tauranga, and ran the fastest last 600m (35.4) for second in the corresponding event on 25 January at Matamata. He rates a top three chance in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. 

1:00 p.m. R2 2 Tenebrosi (3 g Caravaggio - Dark and Stormy) - Michael McNab; ran home well for second in trial on 19 January at Tauranga, and good third on debut to subsequent winner Bellucci (Per Incanto) in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres on 26 January at Hastings. He too looks a top three prospect in the corresponding event.

1:00 p.m. R2 10 Sorcha (3 f Burgundy - Niamh Elizabeth) - Warren Kennedy; she did well holding her spot for second to stable-mate Aliminette (Burgundy) for a Te Akau trifecta in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 3 January and then picked up for third after a chequered passage in the Maiden 1200 metres on 25 January, both at Matamata. She has the blinkers on in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres, and she is another with top three claims.

1:37 p.m. R3 3 Fellini (3 g Belardo - Silke Top) - Michael McNab; he was unsuited on worsening heavy footing when resuming in the 3YO 1200 metres on 28 January at Trentham, and contests the $14,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Placed in Karaka 2YO Million last season, he is a three time winner with genuine attributes and appears set to improve. 

1:37 p.m. R3 4 Navalha (5 g Sebring - Afiado) - Craig Zackey; he won and raced solidly during his Spring campaign from the Te Akau base at Riccarton, and was close up at the line when trialling on 17 January at Tauranga. He has the ability to act fresh and is capable of bold fresh-up performance in the $14,000 Rating 75 1200 metres.

1:37 p.m. R3 6 Irish Red (4 m Burgundy - Niamh Elizabeth) - Craig Grylls; a full sister to Sorcha (above), she won fresh-up over 1200 metres during her Spring campaign also from Te Akau's base at Riccarton, ended after the Canterbury Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) during Cup Week in November, and trialled on 17 January at Tauranga. Three times stakes' placed, she acts fresh and is capable of a bold fresh-up performance in the $14,000 Rating 75 1200 metres.

2:12 p.m. R4 4 Trieste (4 m Tivaci - Domani Oro) - Craig Zackey; she ran home well for third in a trial on 19 January at Tauranga, and was the same again in the fastest last 600m (35.8) on Soft7 when resuming in the Maiden 1300 metres on 3 February at Te Rapa. She rates a top three chance in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres.

2:12 p.m. R4 10 Firriato (3 f Almanzor - Deliciano) - Warren Kennedy; she found the line for fifth when debuting in the Maiden 1100 metres on 30 December and was notable coming from last for third to stable-mate Insatiable (All Too Hard) in the Maiden 1200 metres on 7 February, both at Taupo. Her dam Deliciano (Darci Brahma) won six races from 1800m - 2100m, and she presents as a top three proposition in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres.

2:12 p.m. R4 14 Star In The Sky (3 f Savabeel - Pikari Star) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she finished fifth when debuting in the Maiden Fillies & Mares 1100 metres on 3 January at Matamata, won by stable-mate Off To The Nunnery (Turn Me Loose), and was without much room in the Maiden 1200 metres on 26 January at Hastings, so had excuse. She appears capable of improvement with a decent trip from a tricky barrier nine gate in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres.

3:27 p.m. R6 8 Marvelouz (3 f Almanzor - Miraculous Miss) - Warren Kennedy; she followed two seconds with an easy victory in the Maiden 1400 metres on 7 February at Taupo, and steps up in the $14,000 Rating 65 1800 metres. She is racing well and is a top three contender. 

3:27 p.m. R6 9 Avondalay (3 f Redoute's Choice - Miss Maren) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she ran on nicely for third on slow ground when resuming in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 23 December at Matamata, but was without much zest there in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 25 January. She receives the opportunity to improve in the $14,000 Rating 65 1800 metres.

4:05 p.m. R7 3 La Flora Belle (5 m Iffraaj - Tsarina Belle) - Craig Zackey; she found the Heavy10 going too testing when resuming in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 5 February at Tauranga, and contests the $30,000 Open 1900 metres. She won over 1600 metres here in October at her only course attempt, has since won the Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2040m), and rates a top three chance from the handy two draw. 

4:42 p.m. R8 7 Treaty of Paris (3 g Tavistock - Echezeaux) - Craig Zackey; he improved finishing fifth in the $14,000 Maiden 1600 metres on 26 January at Hastings, and contests the corresponding event. He is lightly racing and will be building towards an improved performance.

4:42 p.m. R8 8 Apollonius (3 g Fastnet Rock - Ciarlet) - Craig Grylls; he raced handily before finishing sixth when resuming in the Maiden 1300 metres on 3 February at Te Rapa, and steps up in the $14,000 Maiden 1600 metres. He needs to step up.

5:24 p.m. R9 9 Our Milly Bee (3 f Merchant Navy - Rina Bettina) - Craig Zackey; she made up plenty, running the fastest last 600m (39.8) for second on a Heavy10 track in the Maiden 1400 metres on 11 January at Matamata, and was second again on Heavy10 going in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 5 February at Tauranga. She rates a top three chance in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). 

5:24 p.m. R9 10 Redsheis (3 f Burgundy - Show No Emotion) - Craig Grylls; she has been solid in all four starts, most recently when fifth in the Maiden 1400 metres on 25 January at Matamata, and steps up in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). She looks well positioned to race well again.