Te Akau Taupo Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Wednesday 17 September at Taupo. 

Taupo: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 5 metres. No rain forecast. 

12:42 p.m. R2 6 Luvabeel (4 m Savabeel – O’Lovely) – Opie Bosson; she was spelled following the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m), and finished strongly (Soft5) to win a trial on 26 August at Waipa. Resuming in the $18,500 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses), she is familiar with the course from trialling, and looks a top three chance from barrier five. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.50.

1:17 p.m. R3 5 Born To Be Royal (3 f King’s Legacy – Fatal Rendezvous) – Opie Bosson; she positioned in fifth and ran home fine over a sprint trip in a trial on 26 August at Waipa, also with Bosson aboard. Resuming in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1300 metres, she showed plenty of juvenile ability last season when finishing third in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes behind stablemate La Dorada and spelled following the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes also won by La Dorada. She has already put together a good record and warrants favouritism as she looks forward to an exciting 3YO season ahead. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.45.

2:27 p.m. R5 11 King’s English (3 c Snitzel – English) – Opie Bosson; he began well from a wide gate to secure a handy position and quickened well for a close second in a trial on 26 August at Waipa, likewise with Bosson aboard. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 1200 metres, he has recorded a win and three seconds at the trials, is by four-time Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), and is out of the dual Group 1 winner and Champion 2YO & 3YO Filly English (Encosta de Lago). He has been training well and can certainly make an impact at his first race day appearance. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.85.

3:02 p.m. R6 10 Marokopa Falls (3 f Hellbent – Beside You) – Hayley Hassman (a3); she was steadied back and closed for fifth in a trial on 26 August at Waipa. Resuming in the $18,500 Rating 65 1300 metres, she trialled ominously here before an excellent debut win over 1000 metres as two-year-old, finished fourth in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and was spelled following the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, both won as previously mentioned by stable-mate La Dorada. She receives weight relief to 51.5kg and from the handy barrier (3), with the feather-weight advantage, she has to be a danger in this field. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.60.

3:39 p.m. R7 1 Hakkinen (4 g Savabeel – Miss Scandinavia) – Hayley Hassman (a3); the first of two stablemates lining up in the $18,500 Rating 65 1400 metres, he got back and ran home tidily over sprint trip too short for him on 26 August at Waipa. Fresh up for this event, he finished strongly for second over 1400 metres on debut, before a smart win over 1600 metres, and was fourth in both the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) - he then took a break following the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m). Returning from his spell, he was fourth in a trial won by dual Group One winner La Crique here on 4 August, has weight relief to 58.5kg, and rates a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

3:39 p.m. R7 2 Top Shelf (4 m Savabeel – Saoirse) – Sam McNab (a3); she was spelled after finishing second in the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) in February at Te Rapa, and has trialled three times in preparation to resume. Also contesting the Rating 65 1400 metres, she won her Maiden stylishly over 1600 metres, has trialled well on this course, has weight relief to 57.5kg, and has definite first four claims if she can get the right run from her awkward gate (9). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

4:14 p.m. R8 6 Vickezzlastcall (4 m Wrote – Vickezzchardonnay) – Opie Bosson; she recorded a good win at just her second start in the Maiden 2YO & 3YO 1400 metres on 6 July at Tauranga, but was simply unable to quicken in two subsequent starts on heavy ground to 1800 metres. As a result, and with the winter tracks prevalent, she has been given time away (32 days). She lines up in the $18,500 Rating 65 1600 metres, is ideally drawn (5) and this is a great opportunity for her to show improvement and bounce back to the form we know she is capable of - the track conditions will play a key part in this. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.25. 

Main picture - Hakkinen winning