Te Akau Taupo Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Wednesday 10 October at Taupo.

As on Tuesday 9 October the conditions were: fine and Good2, rail true. No rain forecast.

1.07 p.m. R1 11 Spirit of Galway (3 f Rip Van Winkle - Galway) - Shafiq Rusof; resumed here on 21 September in the Maiden 1000 metres, coming from last with a strong finish for second, ridden by Shafiq, and contests the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. A three-quarter sister to Group One winner Shillelagh (Savabeel) and stakes winner Grazia (Savabeel), both trained by Te Akau, she is naturally talented and should again be getting home strongly from off the pace.

1.07 p.m. R1 13 Enduring Love (3 f Camelot - Holy Moly) - Matt Cameron; quickened nicely into second without coming off in the bridle when trialling over 900 metres on 19 September at Te Rapa, and debuts from barrier four in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Holy Moly (Holy Roman Emperor) and grand-dam Clarissa (Zabeel) were impressive winners up to 1600 metres, both acted fresh, and she has the pedigree to give a good account first up.

4.04 p.m. R6 1 Motivation (4 g Mastercraftsman - Tenacity) - Opie Bosson; pleased the rider with a solid gallop for third at the trials on 25 September at Te Teko, and he resumes from barrier eight in the $10,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. A winner on debut (1400m) last season and fourth next time out in the Trevor Eagle Memorial (Listed, 1500m) at Ellerslie, he rates a top four chance first up in this field.

4.04 p.m. R6 7 Meteoric Lass (4 m Stratum - Benatar) - Shafiq Rusof; spelled following a dominant debut win over 1200 metres on Slow8 in May at Waipukurau. She trialled well for first and fourth respectively this time in and resumes in the $10,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Ideally drawn (2), she too rates a top four chance first up in this field.