Te Akau Tauranga Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing on Waitangi Day, Wednesday 6 February, at Tauranga.

As on Tuesday 5 February the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail out 9 metres. No rain forecast. 

12.30 p.m. R1 5 Pokuru's Gift(3 g Rock ‘n' Pop - Pokuru Boxer) - Jonathan Riddell; was given a perfect ride by Riddell to win a 1000-metre trial on 22 January at Matamata, and debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Having won two of three trials, he is ideally drawn (1) to produce a solid first-up performance. 

12.30 p.m. R1 9 Quattro Katie(3 f Zoustar - Kakakakatie) - Chelsea Burdan (a4); was unlucky not to win during a Southern spring campaign when placing three times from five starts, including a third in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m). Freshened since, she looked good winning a 1000-metre trial well on 22 January at Matamata. Resuming in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, with weight relief to 51.5kgs, she is ideally drawn (3) to give this a shake.

1.40 p.m. R3 7 Te Akau Dragon(3 g Power - Cool Diamond) - Craig Grylls; given time since debuting on 6 December in the Maiden 1100 metres at New Plymouth, he finished strongly for second in a 1200-metre trial on 22 January at Matamata. Barrier four in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres should ensure an economical trip and he has the addition of visor blinkers. 

2.15 p.m. R4 10 Together(4 m Ocean Park - More to Love) - Matt Cameron; franked her Maiden win when stepping up immediately with victory in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 29 December at Matamata, closing off in the fastest 600m (34) of the day. Given time since (39 days), she drops back in distance for the $25,000 Rating 72 1200 metres and chasing the pace could see her right in it. 

2.50 p.m. R5 1 Al Haram(6 g Sea the Stars - En Public) - Craig Grylls; sustained his effort from back in the field for fifth when trialling over 1000 metres and having last raced at Caulfield he resumes off 112 days in the $30,000 Rating 82 1400 metres. A winner at 2000 metres and stakes placed three times over 2200 metres in France, by the exceptional 1600m - 2400m European Champion Three-Year-Old and European Horse of the Year Sea the Stars (Cape Cross), he has blinkers on and finding the line would be ideal with a view to stepping up in distance. 

3.30 p.m. R6 9 Witchery(4 m Savabeel - Now the World) - Craig Grylls; freshened following a cosy win on 26 October in the Maiden 1200 metres at Pukekohe, she was held up before getting across heels late into third on 23 January in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 1200 metres at Avondale, clocking the equal fastest last 600m (34.3) on the day with winner Sistabeel (Savabeel). In the $22,500 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres, ridden patiently from barrier eight can see her strike from off the pace.

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