Te Akau Tauherenikau Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing on Thursday 11 October at Tauherenikau.

As on Wednesday 10 October the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true. Showers forecast during the meeting.

1.30 p.m. R2 4 Vino Bella (2 f Burgundy - Pinstinct) - Lisa Allpress; pierced through stylishly for second in a good educational trial over 630 metres last Tuesday at Cambridge, and debuts in the $10,000 NZB Pearl Series 2YO 1000 metres (eligible $8,000 bonus). Drawn the outside gate (5) in a small field, her dam, Pinstinct (Pins), was a winner when coming from off the pace over 1200 metres on good footing, and on her trials' performance she should go well.

1.30 p.m. R2 5 Xplosion (2 f Showcasing - Xpress) - Shafiq Rusof; also debuts in the $10,000 NZB Pearl Series 2YO 1000 metres (eligible $8,000 bonus), from barrier three, after missing the start and finishing off strongly for fourth when trialling over 610 metres on 25 September at Te Teko. The year younger sister of Wakefield Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) winner Xpression, who, in an exciting tussle, pushed Te Akau Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage (Fastnet Rock) to a short head in the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) recently at Hastings. She shapes to go well.

2.05 p.m. R3 12 Irish Heart (3 f O'Reilly - Rehab) - Shafiq Rusof; debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 1000 metres. At her only trial, 25 September at Te Teko, she was ridden quietly at the rear before picking up with a strong finish to get her nose in front on the line over 820 metres. From the outside barrier (13), she will get back and look to get home strongly.

2.40 p.m. R4 6 Witchery (4 m Savabeel - Now the World) - Shafiq Rusof; made plenty of ground near the rail when trialling over 800 metres on 11 September at Avondale, and resumes in the $10,000 NZB Pearl Series Maiden 1000 metres. She has the right credentials to produce a bold first up effort. Her dam, Now the World (Flying Spur), has left four individual winners of 14 races, second dam Light up The World (Rory's Jester) was a multiple group winner in Australia, and she has the right credentials to produce a bold first up effort.

3.17 p.m. R5 6 Ocean Star (3 g Ocean Park - Star of Gibraltar) - Shafiq Rusof; drew wide and worked home solidly on debut in the Maiden 1400 metres on 16 September at Rotorua, and contests the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. Prior to, he finished second in a trial won stylishly by stable-mate Golden Age (Savabeel), and Red Jakkal (Jakkalberry) finished third. From a better draw (3) he shapes as an each way contender.

3.53 p.m. R6 11 Duck Road (3 g Ekraar - Silver Buttons) - Samantha Collett; utilized barrier one to trail and kept up a strong gallop for third on debut in the Maiden 1230 metres on 16 September at Taupo. A lovely type of horse, he could overcome a wide draw (15) and should appreciate stepping up in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres.

4.27 p.m. R7 11 English Rose (4 m Makfi - Bislieri) - Shafiq Rusof; finished off the pace when resuming on 14 September at Woodville, and should appreciate stepping up in distance for the $10,000 Maiden 1600 metres. Drawn to receive an economical trip from barrier four, she has registered some good performances and can improve in this field.