Te Akau Te Aroha Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing on Thursday 9 February at Te Aroha.

As on Wednesday 8 February the conditions were: cloudy and Dead4, rail true. 30mls rain forecast Wednesday afternoon and overnight.

1:07 p.m. R1 17 Cousteau (2 c Exceed and Excel - Maritime) - Michael McNab; was solid through the line when trialling here over 800 metres on good footing in December, and set to debut in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres. Unfortunately he has drawn very wide and requires two further defections to make the field.

1:42 p.m. R2 9 Gardenier (4 m Rip Van Winkle - Miss Montjeu) - Cameron Lammas; trialled well over 1000 metres here on 13 December before finishing sixth when resuming in the Maiden 1400 metres on 18 January at Rotorua. Drawn barrier one in the Maiden 1400 metres, some gear changes include a different bit, visor blinkers off and ear covers on, and the half-sister to multiple stakes performing stable-mate Chambord (Zabeel) can show marked improvement.

2.52 p.m. R4 11 Abbey Kay (3 f Keeper - Abbey Tralae) - Michael McNab; fought solidly for seventh behind subsequent winner Miss Dalghar (Dalghar) in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 22 January at Te Rapa, following a notable fourth on debut at New Plymouth. She displayed grit when winning a trial here prior to racing, from a mare that impressed winning over 1200 metres on slow ground, and can show up in the Maiden 1200 metres from barrier six.

2.52 p.m. R4 14 Leonessa (3 f Pour Moi - Lioness) - Cameron Lammas; showed good extension with Lammas aboard when trialling over 935 metres on 10 January at Cambridge, and makes her debut from barrier two in the Maiden 1200 metres. She trialled well here as a two-year-old, has the pedigree to go a lot further - by an Epsom Derby winner out of a mare that left VRC Derby winner Lion Tamer - and the family has acted with give in the ground.

4.05 p.m. R6 5 Fashionably (3 f Redoute's Choice - Scarlett Lady) - Cameron Lammas; made amends with a stylish win on 22 January in the Maiden 3YO 1600 metres at Te Rapa, breaking through at her third start, and ideally drawn in barrier three for the Rating 65 1600 metres. Her dual Group One winning dam Scarlett Lady (Savabeel) acted with give in the ground and this genuine filly should go well again.

4.05 p.m. R6 7 Unfazed (3 f Zabeel - Faze) - Michael McNab; also broke through at her third start when racing away to win by nearly four lengths in the Maiden 1400 metres on 18 January at Rotorua, and drawn barrier four in the Rating 65 1600 metres. She won a trial on slow ground before debuting and with her stable-mate, above, gives trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards a strong hand in the race.

4.42 p.m. R7 6 Scarlet Princess (3 f Redwood - Volks Princess) - Michael McNab; was denied victory at just her second start when claimed on the line by stable-mate Foreigner (Savabeel) over 1400 metres on 27 December at Rotorua, and comes off 44 days in the $12,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Pearl Series Maiden 3YO Fillies 1200 metres. She finished second when trialling on heavy footing to the well regarded Highlad (High Chaparral) and shows the right attributes to be competitive with luck from a wide draw.