Te Akau Taranaki Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Saturday 24 December at New Plymouth.

As on Friday 23 December the conditions were: cloudy and Dead5, rail out 11 metres. 2mls forecast Friday, fine race day.

1.47 p.m. R4 6 Grazia (4 m Savabeel - Trocair) - Alysha Collett; raced outside the leader and was game in second when fresh-up here in the Maiden 1400 metres, but felt the rigours of a wide trip after missing the start over a mile here last time and visor blinkers have been removed. She won a trial on slow ground before resuming, went close to breaking through in her first campaign and capable of bouncing back in the Maiden 1400 metres.

1.47 p.m. R4 14 Unfazed (3 f Zabeel - Faze) - Michael McNab; drew wide on debut and did a good job making headway for seventh, last 600m 34.6, in the Maiden 1200 metres on 23 November at Te Aroha, and given time since she steps up in the Maiden 1400 metres. An early season trial winner, in August, on slow ground at Te Teko, she has blinkers on and appears talented enough to produce a bold showing from barrier six.

2.47 p.m. R6 1 Epic Tale (3 g Snitzel - Mini Tales) - Michael McNab; yielded late for fifth after working to lead in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 30 November at Pukekohe, following a solid third in the Maiden 1400 metres on 6 November at Hastings. Each good form races, with subsequent winners from both. Drawn barrier three in the Maiden 3YO 1600 metres, he should receive a favourable trip and certainly warrants favouritism in this field.

3.47 p.m. R8 5 Fastnet Fire (4 m Fastnet Rock - Dragon's Tail) - Michael McNab; recorded a dominant second up win in the Maiden 1600 metres on 8 December at Hastings, with McNab aboard, after finding the line solidly for third when resuming over 1400 metres at Avondale. If anything, the win should have brought her on considerably in fitness and confidence and she appears ideally placed in the Rating 65 1800 metres.