Te Akau Taranaki Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has two horses racing on Saturday 3 February at New Plymouth.

As on Friday 2 January the conditions were: cloudy and Dead6, rail out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

1.25 p.m. R2 7 Scrutinize (5 g Savabeel - Legs) - Michael McNab; resumed with a terrific run for second in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 21 January at Te Rapa, clocking one of the fastest last 600m (34.4) on the day. Up in grade but down in weight (59.5kgs to 55kgs) for the $30,000 Rating 85 1600 metres, his second up effort off a lengthy spell will be interesting. Solid tempo in a small but select field would aid his chances. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.50.

3.09 p.m. R5 4 Handsome Rebel (2 g Denman - London Rebel) - Opie Bosson; maintained a strong gallop for third on debut here to winning stable-mate The Real Beel (Savabeel) in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres on 27 December, and finished a notable third to race rival Wisdom Patch (Snitzel) on 12 January in the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres at Matamata. Contesting the $70,000 Phoenix Park Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m), he receives an opportunity to garner stakes form. Fixed odds: $17.00 & $6.20.