Te Akau Te Aroha Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing on Wednesday 18 October at Te Aroha.

As on Tuesday 17 October the conditions were: fine and Dead6, rail out 1 metre. No rain forecast.

12.58 p.m. R1 5 Dublin Rose (2 f O'Reilly - Irish Dream) - Cameron Lammas; debuts from barrier five in the $10,000 2YO 1000 metres. In her only trial, on 28 September at Te Teko, with Lammas aboard, she railed perfectly from barrier one and won easily over 600 metres. She ran a tick faster (37.0) than her stable-mate Irish Cream (O'Reilly), in the following heat, an impressive debut winner by seven lengths in the 2YO Maiden 900 metres on 4 October at Ruakaka. Her dam, Irish Dream, by Savabeel (Zabeel), won three races and a sister to Tullamore and the Te Akau trained mares Grazia and Shillelagh. While bred to get over more ground, she has shown the natural talent to assert herself here.

2.09 p.m. R3 3 Bak Da Master (3 g Mastercraftsman - Bak Da Princess) - Opie Bosson; fought hard for third in a 1000-metre trial on 14 September at Avondale, given heavy going, and makes his debut in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. He is a half-brother to Group One Easter Handicap winner Pondarosa Miss (High Chaparral) and Group One placed multiple stakes winner Ecuador (High Chaparral), in Australia, and from the same family as impressive dual winning stable-mate Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle). A staying type in the making, he has a wide draw (12) to contend with but should go well with a touch of luck.

2.09 p.m. R3 11 English Rose (3 f Makfi - Bislieri) - Cameron Lammas; has drawn barrier one on debut in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. In the more recent of two trials this time in, over 1000 metres on 14 September at Avondale, she sustained a big finish from off the pace for second. A sister to 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Sofia Rosa (Makfi), a multiple Group winner that culminated her three-year-old season with victory in the ATC Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) at Randwick, she seems capable of a bold first up performance.

2.44 p.m. R4 5 Madam Monica (4 m Mastercraftsman - Lynisky) - Cameron Lammas; had the benefit of a trial, improving from the rear to finish fourth on 26 September at Te Teko, and resumes in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres with blinkers and a brow band on. She was a touch unlucky not to record a victory in her first preparation, with two seconds and a third, and towards the end of her campaign she contested the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 1 January at Ellerslie.

4.29 p.m. R7 4 Devil May Care (4 g Lonhro - Devil's Song) - Opie Bosson; won an 800-metre trial without being extended on 14 September at Avondale, drawing comment from the rider (Bosson) “‘he can gallop”. On debut from barrier eight in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. In training for Sir Peter Vela, from the family of New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Vapour Trail (Jetball) and Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) winner Encosta Diablo (Encosta De Lago), this appears an ideal first up assignment.

5.04 p.m. R8 4 Fashionably (4 m Redoute's Choice - Scarlett Lady) - Opie Bosson; closed in for fifth and was good through the line when trialling over 1000 metres on 26 September at Te Teko. Although not a big mare, she has strengthened and resumes in the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. Impressive winning over a mile third up, she ended her first campaign with fifths to Bonneval (Makfi) in both the Lowland Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m) and New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). She was unlucky not to win here over a mile in February, following her Maiden victory, and from barrier five can certainly make her presence felt in this field.