Te Akau Te Aroha Friday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing on Friday 24 January at Te Aroha.

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: out 1.5 metres. No rain forecast.

1.37 p.m. R3 1 Te Akau Caliburn  (5 h Camelot - Enchanted Evening) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); spelled after contesting the Bart Cummings (Gr. 3, 2520m) on 5 October at Flemington, closed late when trialling over 1000 metres 10 days ago at Matamata, and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 82 1400 metres. Claiming to 58.5kgs, he will come into his own over more distance.

1.37 p.m. R3 4 Byzantine  (4 g Savabeel - Baradevi) - Opie Bosson; carried 60kgs when making it back-to-back wins in the Rating 72 1300 metres on 2 January at Tauranga, with Bosson aboard. He ran very good time (last 600m in 33.4) again, after clocking the fastest (34.1) at Hastings, and rates a top three chance in the $30,000 Rating 82 1400 metres.

2.14 p.m. R4 9 Vino Bella (3 f Burgundy - Pinstinct) - Danielle Johnson; attacked the line strongly when winning the Pearl Series Maiden 1000 metres on 10 October at Tauherenikau, and freshened following a very close second in the Pearl Series Rating 65 1200 metres on 7 November at Otaki. A determined filly, she appears a top four chance from barrier three in the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. 

2.49 p.m. R5 2 Weaponry  (4 g Declaration of War - Cat Shmea) - Opie Bosson; recorded his fifth win from 10 starts with another tough effort in the Rating 82 1600 metres on 4 January at Awapuni, having won the Rating 72 1400 metres on 13 December at Tauranga, and steps up in the $35,000 Open 1600 metres. Drawn the outside of seven runners, he brings the form to rate a top three chance.

3.26 p.m. R6 2 Shezathinka  (4 m So You Think - Headsup) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); looked good winning a trial before finishing second to stable-mate She's Not Bad (He's Remarkable) in the Rating 72 1400 metres on 30 December at Taupo, with Kamaruddin aboard. She's Not Bad franked the form with a notable effort in the Anniversary Handicap (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 11 January at Trentham. With weight relief to 55kgs, she is suited drawing handily (3) in the $25,000 Rating 72 1600 metres.

4.01 p.m. R7 2 Mongolianconqueror (5 g Ocean Park - Queen Rania) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); circled from ninth with a strong effort for third in the Open 2100 metres on 12 January at Ellerslie, after winding up into fourth on 29 December in the New Plymouth Cup (Open, 1800m), and drops in grade for the $30,000 Rating 82 2200 metres. Assisted by weight relief to 56kgs, he can prove competitive with the right trip.  

4.01 p.m. R7 6 Leaderboard (5 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Danielle Johnson; notched consecutive wins in the Rating 72 2000 metres during Cup Week at Riccarton, and resumed with a bright performance for second in the Rating 72 1600 metres on 7 January at Matamata. A staying type, with races like the Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) in mind, he has the addition of side winkers and gets his chance to measure up in the $30,000 Rating 82 2200 metres. 

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