Te Akau Taupo Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing on Friday 22 September at Taupo.

As on Thursday 21 September the conditions were: overcast and Dead6, rail true. 6mls rain forecast Thursday, cloudy race day.

12.44 p.m. R2 4 Epic Tale (4 g Snitzel - Mini Tales) - Opie Bosson; followed a dominant trial win with a resuming fifth on Heavy11 over 1200 metres at Tauranga, and has drawn barrier five in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. During four starts in his first campaign, he showed when finishing third over 1400 metres to subsequent New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) runner-up Devise (Darci Brahma) at Hastings, that he could foot it with some talented gallopers and improved track conditions should be an assist.

12.44 p.m. R2 9 Wandering Eye (3 g Commands - Adulterer) - Michael McNab; produced a solid debut performance for second in the Maiden 3YO 1000 metres on 16 August at Ruakaka, and has drawn barrier seven in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. His dam Adulterer (Traditionally) was a dual winner over 1200 metres in Australia and grand-dam It's My Sin (Success Express) won impressively up to 1400 metres before proving her talent at stud when leaving twelve individual winners of 39 races. A horse that can both begin smartly and quicken, he too won his trial before going to the races.

2.29 p.m. R5 2 Vinevale (5 m Flying Spur - Eden Valley) - Opie Bosson; ended her previous campaign coming out of the pack for second in the Rating 75 1300 metres on Hawkes Bay Cup Day in April at Hastings, and without a trial she resumes off 160 days in the $11,000 Rating 75 1300 metres. A talented mare, she has impressed winning from 1200m to 1500m, recorded two of her three wins fresh-up and carries the second highest rating in the field.

3.04 p.m. R6 12 Pure Savalina (4 m Savabeel - Catalina) - Michael McNab; finished back in the field when resuming on 2 September in the Rating 65 1400 metres at Ruakaka, and contests the $10,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. She was a Maiden winner over 1600 metres on Dead4 ground in January at Matamata, is somewhat dictated by the draw (12) to race back in the field and finding the line with a view to stepping up in distance would be encouraging.

3.41 p.m. R7 9 Coup Bradman (3 g Darci Brahma - Bosphorus) - Michael McNab; sat outside the leader in a good trial performance for second to stable-mate Wandering Eye (Commands) over 820 metres on 1 August at Te Teko. Although bred to make his mark over more ground, he has been consistent at the trials and boasts a strong second to stable-mate and Champion Two-Year-Old Melody Belle (Commands). On debut from barrier five in the $10,000 Maiden 1000 metres, finding the line with purpose would be a step in the right direction.

4.18 p.m. R8 5 Embellish (3 c Savabeel - Bling) - Michael McNab; put aside in April following a second on debut over 1200 metres at Ellerslie, he resumes in the $10,000 Maiden 1000 metres. In preparation, he was held together in front on heavy going when finishing second in a trial on 1 August at Te Teko. He registered a third and first respectively in two trials as a two-year-old, beating stakes' placed stable-mate Summer Monsoon (Stratum) on 21 March at Matamata. A brother to Group One winner Diademe, he has quality about him and should make his presence felt in this field.