Te Akau Taupo Saturday Preview
Date: 29 Dec 2023
Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on 30 December at Taupo.
Weather: raining, track: Soft6, rail: true. 20mls rain forecast 29th, 3mls 30th.
2:10 p.m. R4 1 Fellini (4 g Belardo – Silke Top) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he remained at the rear when resuming in the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres on 7 December at New Plymouth, won by stable-mate and race rival Stella Splendida (below), and contests the corresponding event. A course winner at his only attempt, he is stakes' placed, and will be seeking to show improvement. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.10.
2:10 p.m. R4 6 Sophisticardo (5 g Burgundy – Glamorous Girl) – Craig Grylls; he remained beyond midfield when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 13 December at Hastings, and also contests the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres. He is a course/distance winner on rain-affected ground, and appears ideally drawn (4) to make his presence felt. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.00.
2:10 p.m. R4 7 Stella Splendida (4 m Zoustar – Scintillula) – Opie Bosson; she bounced back to winning form in the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres on 7 December at New Plymouth, and likewise contests the this corresponding event. An impressive course/distance winner on debut, she rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.00 & $1.25.
2:10 p.m. R4 9 Polly Plum (5 m Xtravagant – Herstory) – Vinnie Colgan; she produced a good effort for third in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 13 December at Hastings, and she also contests the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres. Second in each of two trials on the course, she is positively drawn (2) to race well again. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.20.
4:02 p.m. R7 10 Mehzebeen (4 m Almanzor – Salkantay) – Michael McNab; she remained back when trialling on 22 December at Matamata, and resumes in the $80,000 Harcourts Taupo Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m). She produced a notable effort for sixth in the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2600m) before having a break, was second in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) last season, and has all indicators of measuring up here. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.