Te Akau Taupo Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses entered for the seven-race programme on Friday Sept. 19 at Taupo.

As on Thursday Sept. 18 the conditions were: cloudy and Dead6, rail true.

1.15 p.m. R2 4 King's Rock (4 g Fastnet Rock - Nureyev's Girl) - Matt Cameron; made up plenty of ground, running home strongly from last, when resuming on Sept. 10 in the Rating 65 1400 metres at Te Rapa. Trainer Jason Bridgman reports the horse to be in fine shape since the run and he now steps up in distance for the Rating 65 1800 metres. Ideally drawn in barrier four, he seems nicely placed in what appears a winnable race.

1.50 p.m. R3 7 Madame Jamai (3 f Minstrel Court - Palais Jamai) - Matt Cameron; looked all over the winner here on Aug. 20 before being nailed on the line by Bonniegirl (Darci Brahma) - the current second favourite for the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Saturday at Hastings - in the Maiden 1000 metres. Additional form from the race has also seen fourth placed Aotearower (Shamardal) beaten by a nose last week at Te Rapa. She should receive all favours from barrier one and prove very competitive again in the corresponding race.

2.25 p.m. R4 6 Prince Henry (3 g Henrythenavigator - Ocean of Tears) - Leith Innes; makes his debut on the back of very solid trials form, which has seen him win, and place three times, from four outings. From barrier eleven in the Maiden 1200 metres, he will likely go forward to position in or near the lead and a continuation of his genuine efforts should make him competitive. He stems from a family that has left some classy performers - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

2.25 p.m. R4 10 Sonsy (3 f Thorn Park - Flowing) - Matt Cameron; recorded a smart win in June and a stylish fifth on Aug. 26, trialling over 800 metres at Te Teko, and makes her debut from barrier six. A half-sister to Plenty Special (High Chaparral), whose victories over 1850m and 2500m indicate his preference, this filly seems to have the precocity for a sprint trip early on and the scope to go considerably further. From the family of Melbourne Cup winner Empire Rose (Sir Tristram), she should receive a nice run from barrier six and brings an interesting component to the race.

3.00 p.m. R5 14 Osmunda (4 m O'Reilly - Wyndam Special) - Matt Cameron; contested the NZB Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m) last time out and resumes off 160-days in the Rating 75 1300 metres. She displayed a good action when finishing second in a recent trial over 1200 metres at Te Teko, and although facing a wide barrier and some smart opponents she has the ability to be closing off strongly in a fresh state.

3.35 p.m. R6 8 Opulent (3 f Keeper - Silk Slipper) - Matt Cameron; was a beaten a nose, and a nose, when third here on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres and steps up in distance to contest the Maiden Fillies and Mares 1300 metres. With the pedigree to get over more ground, she should receive a nice passage from barrier five and her chances of forcing the issue in this line up appear bright.

4.10 p.m. R7 6 Alchemy's Flight (4 m Darci Brahma - Eloa) - Matt Cameron; finished second at her only course attempt, over 1200 metres, and resumes off 258-days in the Rating 65 1300 metres. She displayed good improvement when making plenty of ground for fourth in a recent trial at Te Teko, has shown ability winning one of only four starts and a solid performance in this field would be encouraging.