Te Akau Te Aroha Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Wednesday 30 October at Te Aroha. 

Te Aroha: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft5, rail: out 7 metres. 5mls rain forecast Tuesday and 8mls Wednesday.

1:21 (subsidiary) R1 9 Captured By Love (3 f Written Tycoon – Moldova) – Wiremu Pinn; she kept closing into second when resuming in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes 1200m on 7 September at Hastings, and became the talking point when she staged a massive run for third after rearing as the gates opened in the Group 2 Hawkes Bay Guineas 1400m on 2 October at Matamata, won by race rival Savaglee (Savabeel). She is having first start on course in the re-scheduled $150,000 Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial 1400m, and while she meets a quality field, she has the record to warrant favouritism. Fixed odds: $1.85 & $1.15.

3:07 p.m. R5 6 Viva Glam (3 f Savabeel – Style By Design) – Joe Doyle; she understandably finished back after beginning awkwardly in a trial here on 23 October, and resumes in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. From the rear she finished third on debut as a two-year-old last season, and is out of a stakes' placed mare that won twice over 1200 metres. However she has drawn wide (12) so look for her to be finding the line in the closing stages - one of two lining up for the team. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.60.

3:07 p.m. R5 14 Ocean Miss (3 f Ocean Park – Runway) – Samantha Spratt; raced by a Ladies' Syndicate, she jumped out well to trail and ran on fine over a sprint trip for fifth in a trial here on 23 October. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, her dam is a half-sister to Te Akau trained triple Group One winner Gingernuts (Iffraaj), and while she appears destined for further, this is an ideal starting point and she is advantaged by the handy gate (5). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80. 

3:43 p.m. R6 14 Celestial Wonder (3 f Xtravagant – Meteoric Lass) – Vinnie Colgan; she did everything right to lead and win a trial here on 23 October, making it two wins out of three through the trials' stage. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 1200 metres, her Te Akau trained dam Meteoric Lass (Stratum) won her first two races over 1200 metres, and her daughter has obvious ability and shapes to race well if she can get a break from her dreadful barrier  (18). Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.85. 

4:19 p.m. R7 7 By Her Rules (3 f Kermadec – Empress Cixi) – Kelly Myers; she found line well from back on the inner for fifth in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 11 October at Taupo, and is one of a stable duo contesting the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Gaining experience, she receives a prime opportunity at her third start to further improve, she can occasionally be a stroppy miss! Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.70. 

4:19 p.m. R7 8 Celtic Bling (3 f Embellish – Niamh Elizabeth) – Vinnie Colgan; she was caught wide from the outside gate and sustained big effort to win on 8 October at Matamata. The winner of both trials this time in, she debuts in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. She is a homebred filly, a half to Te Akau trained, stakes' placed winners Irish Red and Cu Chulainn and three-time winner Sorcha, all by Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice). She does possess the right credentials to rate a top three chance with luck from barrier 11. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.