Te Akau Taupo Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Friday 11 September at Taupo. 

Taupo: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: out 5 metres. No rain forecast. 

1:08 p.m. R2 2 Arrazola (4 m Almanzor – Shanzam) – Masa Hashizume; she overcame adversity to finish strongly from back in the field for third after her rider (Hashizume) lost a stirrup in the straight when resuming in the Maiden 1400 metres here on 16 August. Contesting the $18,500 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses), she boasts a good fresh-up performance and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00. She is also accepted in Race 3 the $18,500 Maiden 1400 metres at 1:42 p.m. - fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.65.

2:17 p.m. R4 1 Getupoffathatthing (3 g Farnan – Majestueux) – Michael McNab; he was steadied back on the outer and quickened appreciably down the outside for a smart trial win on 25 August at Waipa. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres, he is by Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner and Australian Champion 2YO Farnan (Not A Single Doubt), and is out of a mare by four-time Champion Sire Snitzel. He has displayed plenty of promise in each of his two trials, the latter a real eye-catcher, and he is primed to race well on debut. Fixed odds: $2.25 & $1.20.

2:17 p.m. R4 2 State Of Play (3 g Sword Of State – Prose Poem) – Masa Hashizume; he improved to settle in the trail at the 800m and quickened home strongly for a close second in a trial on 25 August at Waipa. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres, he is by Te Akau purchased and trained Champion Two-Year-Old Sword of State, out of a mare by Group 1 Dubai World Cup (2000m) winner Street Cry (Machiavellian), the sire of Winx. From the ace draw, he has the ability to put himself in this race and deliver a top four finish. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.05.

2:54 p.m. R5 2 Rise To Power (3 c Snitzel – Festivity) – Masa Hashizume; he travelled fifth behind a competitive pace and finished off well for third in a trial on 25 August at Waipa, also with Masa Hashizume aboard. Resuming in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres, he is by Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), out of the Te Akau bought and trained stakes’ winner Festivity (I Am Invincible), the winner of six races to 1200 metres. The first of two stable runners in this race, he is a dual trial winner and deserves to be respected from barrier three. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.05. 

2:54 p.m. R5 5 The Queen’s Sword (3 f Sword Of State – Sarvoia) – Kyle Wilson-Taylor; the second starter in the event for the team, she was allowed to find her feet off the pace and finished strongly for a close fourth in trial on 25 August at Waipa. Also resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres, she is another by the Te Akau bought and trained Champion Two-Year-Old Sword of State. It was a good effort for second in her sole start as two-year-old, and look for a strong fresh up performance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.80.

4:03 p.m. R7 3 Dua Dance (5 m Yes Yes Yes – Cornerstone) – Masa Hashizume; she settled back to last in a trial on 25 August at Waipa, being some 12 lengths off the leaders at the 600m. While she remained back, she was doing her best work through the line, likewise with Masa Hashizume aboard. Having her first start for the stable, she came from last to win a Maiden 1150 metres for the same rider, and has an ideal alley (2) to make her presence felt. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.80.