Te Akau Te Aroha Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Thursday 30 November at Otaki.  

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

12:26 p.m. R1 6 Leaderboard (9 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he was good through the line for a staying horse over a sprint trip in trial on 13 November at Waipa, and resumes in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. He won the Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) in January at Trentham, and while destined for further, he is a capable type - one of two lining up in the first race on the programme. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.80.

12:26 p.m. R1 8 Accidental Tourist (4 g Telperion – Megara) – Warren Kennedy; he was strong in the finish when fourth, second-up in the Rating 75 1300 metres on 11 November at Te Rapa, and also contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. He drops in weight to carry the minimum (54kg) and is drawn (3) handily to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.65.

1:10 p.m. R2 7 Ruler Of Egypt (3 g American Pharoah – Galway) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he ran home solidly for fourth in a trial on 13 November at Waipa, and debuts in the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres. The stable has a good affinity with his talented family through the deeds of his half-sister Spirit Of Galway (Rip Van Winkle) and stakes' winners Shillelagh (Savabeel) and Grazia (Savabeel). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.00.

1:37 p.m. R3 2 Knowledge Is Power (2 c Written Tycoon – Hectopascal) – Matt Cameron; he debuts in the $40,000 2YO 1100 metres and looks well positioned for a podium finish from barrier two. When trialling at Waipa, he quickened clear in the straight to win stylishly on 29 August and was not pressured when sustaining a run for second on 13 November. Well bred, by Australian Champion Sire Written Tycoon (Iglesia), from a mare by Champion Sire Pins (Snippets) who won of six races from 1200m – 1600m in Australia, he is a promising individual - one of two 2YO's in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.40. 

1:37 p.m. R3 4 Hooray For Harry (2 c Harry Angel – Here We Come) – Johnathan Parkes; he finished sixth on debut to subsequent Counties Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m) winner Velocious (Written Tycoon) in the 2YO 1000 metres on 11 November at Te Rapa, and likewise contests the $40,000 2YO 1100 metres. By World Champion Sprinter, from a mare that won three times to 1200 metres in Australia, his sire is on fire and he is likely to race handily from barrier four. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.00.

2:48 p.m. R5 7 Wild Night (4 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he last raced in the WFA Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) here in February, and finished first and third respectively in two preparatory trials. Winner of the Sarten Memorial Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) and Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m), and runner up in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) and third in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) last season, he is ideally drawn (2) to race well first up in the $80,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres after an enforced lay-off. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.65. 

3:57 p.m. R7 4 Rule Of Law (3 g Justify – Repeat) – Johnathan Parkes; he found plenty after leading to win comfortably in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 18 October, but was unable to repeat that feat on rain-affected ground when up in class for the 3YO 1400 metres on 18 November, both at Tauranga. He is looking to show improvement from barrier four in the $100,000 Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m). Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.20.