Te Akau Te Aroha King's Birthday Monday Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Monday 3 June at Te Aroha. 

Te Aroha:

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy8, rail: out 2.5 metres. No rain forecast.  

1:02 p.m. R5 4 Devoted (6 g Contributer – Mapmaker) – Nick Downs; he provided Te Akau apprentice Tayla Melvin (a4) with her first win when coming from last in the Rating 65 2100 metres on 25 May at Pukekohe. Two days later he won a steeplechase trial at Cambridge, with Downs aboard, and contests the $20,000 Maiden Steeplechase (3500m). He has jumps' experience over hurdles, is in great order, and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.90 & $1.30. 

2:49 p.m. R8 5 Aris Aris (5 m Contributer – Irish Encore) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she engulfed the field with a sustained sprint to win (fastest last 600m on day: 34.6) the $40,000 Open Handicap 1300 metres on 18 May at Te Rapa, also with Parmar aboard, and contests the corresponding event. She had recorded all four wins on soft ground before winning on Heavy8 last time, and she too rates a top three chance today. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.00. 

3:27 p.m. R9 8 Family Ties (4 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Jess Allen (a3); she continued her solid form with a strong run for fourth in the Rating 75 1560 metres on 11 May at Rotorua, also with Allen aboard, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. All three of her wins have come on soft footing, she will relish the weight relief to 52kg, and is in the right fettle to suggest another bold effort. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.