Te Akau Taupo Friday Preview
Date: 16 Sep 2022
Te Akau Racing has 15 horses entered on Friday 16 September at Taupo.
Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 3 metres from 800m - 400m, remainder out 1 metre. Showers forecast.
1:02 p.m. R2 2 Fierce Flight (4 g Flying Artie - First Bloom) - Michael McNab; he was steadied to last, seven lengths off the leaders at the 600m, before finding the line nicely for fourth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 28 August at Matamata. He steps up in the $14,000 Rating 65 1800 metres and is a Maiden winner over 1600 metres, with two runs under his belt, and should race well if appreciative of course at his first attempt - one of two for the stable contesting the second race on the programme.
1:02 p.m. R2 8 Madame Moet (5 m Iffraaj - Champagne Katie) - Opie Bosson; she got back and was unable to quicken when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 24 August at Taupo, won by stable-mate Zeitaku (Savabeel), before quickening clear to trounce her rivals in the Rating 60 1600 metres on 7 September at Matamata. With her winning form, she rates a top three chance in the $14,000 Rating 65 1800 metres.
1:37 p.m. R3 3 Sternland (4 m Astern - Landslide) - Opie Bosson; she got back, seven lengths off at the 600m, before finding the line for fourth in the Maiden 1200 metres 7 September at Matamata, and steps up in the $14,000 Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres. Placed three times at 1400m/1600m, she rates a top three prospect from the handy barrier four.
2:12 p.m. R4 8 Armino (3 c Fastnet Rock - Luna Rossa) - Sam Weatherley; he stretched out very well to win a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa, but was never comfortable in the heavy going on 16 August at Avondale. He debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1300 metres, having been good through the trials' stage - his dam won a Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), and he is ideally drawn (4) to race well.
2:47 p.m. R5 1 Time Flies (3 g Time Test - Rorippa) - Sam Weatherley; he ended his previous campaign finishing fourth to stable-mate Dynastic (Almanzor) in the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) and following two good trials he resumes in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. He won his first trial here as two-year-old, and rates a top three chance from barrier three - the first of three in the event for the stable.
2:47 p.m. R5 7 Stella Splendida (3 f Zoustar - Scintillula) - Opie Bosson; she quickened to lead on straightening, drawing a margin to win well at the trials on 6 September at Tauranga, and she too debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Winning three of her four trials, including her first here as two-year-old, she is quality filly with the credentials to rate a top three prospect.
2:47 p.m. R5 12 Zakaya (3 f Reliable Man - Zarzing) - Craig Grylls; she lifted in the home stretch duel with stable-mate Roc Anthem (above) to finish a close second in a trial on 6 September at Tauranga, and she is another debuting in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. She is progressing well this time in and an emulation of her recent trial effort would ensure solid first-up performance.
3:20 p.m. R6 2 Rip Van Gogh (5 g Rip Van Winkle - On the Move) - Opie Bosson; he made his run in slower ground on the inner last Wednesday in the Rating 60 1600 metres at Matamata, won by stable-mate Madame Moet (above), and drops in distance for $14,000 Rating 60 1300 metres. He won his Maiden over this distance and is ideally drawn (4) with the senior jockey engaged, if appreciative of the course at his first look.
3:51 p.m. R7 9 Patriarca (4 m Savabeel - Baby Shacks) - Michael McNab; she debuted with a solid fourth behind dual winning stable-mates Ragamuffin (Belardo) and Pisco Sour (I Am Invincible) over 1200 metres in March at Hastings. She has been okay in two preparatory trials, resumes in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres and receives the opportunity to improve further - one of a stable duo in this race.
3:51 p.m. R7 11 Fay Khan It (4 m Mongolian Khan - Morgan Le Fay) - Opie Bosson; she stretched out well for third when having a solitary trial outing in January at Ellerslie, and makes her debut in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. While she is ideally drawn (4) and has the stable rider engaged, her pedigree suggests she may require further.
4:25 p.m. R8 2 Challa (6 g Dissident - Are There Any) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he ended his previous campaign after finishing fifth in the Rating 74 1200 metres on 22 May at Hawera, and resumes in the $14,000 Rating 75 1100 metres. Stakes' placed, he is the winner of three races to 1200 metres, has placed at his only course attempt and, while without a trial, he has the ability to act fresh - the first of five to step out for trainer Mark Walker in the last.
4:25 p.m. R8 3 Quattro Quinta (4 g Darci Brahma - Quintette) - Tayla Mitchell (a3); he was a stakes' winning two-year-old at Trentham, spelled in March after winning a Rating 74 1200 metres at Trentham, and ran home solidly for fifth when trialling here on 24 August. He resumes in the $14,000 Rating 75 1100 metres, has weight relief to 56.5kg, possesses a good record and rates a top three chance.
4:25 p.m. R8 4 Cote de Beaune (4 g Burgundy - Lucrative) - Opie Bosson; he won three of five last season, ending his campaign in April after the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). Held up, he worked through boldly late for fourth in a trial on 16 August at Avondale. He too resumes in the $14,000 Rating 75 1100 metres, has won a trial here and appears set to race well fresh-up.
4:25 p.m. R8 7 Sophisticardo (4 g Burgundy - Glamorous Girl) - Samantha Spratt; he ended his previous campaign with a notable third in the Rating 74 1400 metres on 25 March at Hawera, sustained a big run to grab third in a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa, and is another resuming in the $14,000 Rating 75 1100 metres. He races well fresh, is a course winner over 1200 metres at his only attempt, and was up to the best of his age at two and three.
4:25 p.m. R8 9 Aris Aris (4 m Contributer - Irish Encore) - Lisa Allpress; she ended her previous campaign finishing second to impressive Te Akau winner Synchronize (Savabeel) in the 3YO 1400 metres on 14 May at Rotorua, and he is another resuming in the $14,000 Rating 75 1100 metres. A course/distance winner on debut, with two wins and three seconds from six starts, she is a newcomer to the stable, and has first four claims from barrier one.
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