Te Akau Taranaki Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses entered for the eight race programme on Thursday 2 April at New Plymouth.  

As on Wednesday 1 April the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out twelve metres.

2.22 p.m. R2 7 Sunset Pass (6 g Yamanin Vital - Janet's Chance) - Daniel Miller (a3); resumes off 186-days in the Rating 65 High-weight 2000 metres. Gearing up for a jumps campaign, he has taken plenty of time to thicken into his sizeable frame but looks the part now. He has raced well here previously and running through the line solidly will be encouraging signs.

3.30 p.m. R4 2 Bordeaux (3 g High Chaparral - Our Echezeaux) - Matt Cameron; has been gelded since his first start and resumes off 127-days in Maiden 3YO 1400 metres, having recently unwound a staying type run for second in a 1230-metre trial at Rotorua. His dam, Our Echezeaux (Zabeel), was a winner on debut over 1300 metres and already left impressive winners Dolmabache and Pure Elegance, both by Redoute's Choice (Danehill), from the family of Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel), Darci Brahma (Danehill), Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), Romanee Conti (Sir Tristram) and Ethereal (Rhythm). While the 1400m could prove a touch short, he shapes as a nice staying type in the making.

4.07 p.m. R5 2 Atua (3 g Murtajill - Silent Smytzer) - Matt Cameron; worked early to position outside the leader when finishing fifth on March 11 in the Maiden 1200 metres at Matamata, and contests the corresponding race here from barrier three. He is an athletic type that should show the benefit of learning the game in his three starts thus far.

4.42 p.m. R6 8 Is This Love (3 f O'Reilly - One Love) - Matt Cameron; resumes off 66-days in the Rating 65 1200 metres, having had the benefit of a trial over 950 metres where she worked home nicely for fourth to group two performer Addictive Habit at Cambridge. A winner on debut over 1400 metres at Taupo, she is a good bodied filly having only her third start and while destined to get over more ground a bold performance would not surprise.

5.17 p.m. R7 4 Maestro (4 g Encosta De Lago - Miss Scarlatti) - Matt Cameron; found the rain-affected going not to his liking in the Rating 65 1200 metres on March 12 at Te Aroha, and steps up in distance to 1400 metres. He was a dominant winner on good ground over 1400 metres in January at Matamata, having recorded a solid fifth prior in strong company at Ellerslie, and should receive all favours from barrier three.