Te Akau Te Rapa Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has eight horses racing on Saturday 4 February at Te Rapa.

As on Friday 3 February the conditions were: showery and Dead4, rail true. No further rain forecast.

12.33 p.m. R1 5 Princess Davone (4 m Iffraaj - Nikey Davone) - Michael McNab; has won two of her three starts in this campaign. The most recent off a wide run in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 18 January at Rotorua, covering the final 600m in a very good time (34.0). Up in grade, but down 2.5kgs in weight to carry 54kg, for the $25,000 Rating 85 1400 metres, she boasts both the right form and genuine attributes to measure up. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.55 (field of six, two placed dividends only).

1.42 p.m. R3 2 Vinevale (4 m Flying Spur - Eden Valley) - Opie Bosson; did well after racing outside the leader for a majority of the contest when finishing a close fourth to Von Tunzelman (Zabeel) in the Rating 85 2100 metres on 20 January at Tauranga. She won stylishly over 1500 metres here three starts ago, has done nothing to dent her reputation since, and with visor blinkers on, back in grade for the $22,500 Rating 75 2100 metres she rates a good each way chance from barrier two in a field of seven.

2.17 p.m. R4 6 Hushed (5 g Don Eduardo - Danewhisper) - Opie Bosson; has been given time since resuming with a stylish win in the Rating 85 1480 metres on 31 December at Stratford, with Te Akau apprentice Jasmine Fawcett aboard. A find in the intermediate staying ranks last season, with four wins, he steps up in grade and distance to contest the $30,000 Open Handicap 2000 metres. He has handled each rise in grade with aplomb and receives a chance to frank his form against some better calibre staying horses. Fixed odds: $6.80 & $2.30.

2.55 p.m. R5 11 Tatters (4 m Tavistock - Rattle) - Opie Bosson; resumed with a terrific run off the trail for third in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 29 December at Ellerslie, with Bosson aboard, and lacked room when required in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres on 13 January at Matamata. In the corresponding $25,000 race (eligible for $20,000 bonus), her two course attempts have rendered a first and second and a touch of luck from barrier nine can see her in the finish.

3.34 p.m. R6 2 Our Abbadean (4 m Lookin at Lucky - Highland Lights) - Opie Bosson; got back from a wide draw before finishing strongly for fourth in the $40,000 Douro Cup (Rating 85, 1600m) on 21 January at Trentham, after having no luck on 1 January in the Rating 75 1600 metres at Ellerslie. Back in grade, carrying 56.5kgs, in the $22,500 Rating 75 1600 metres, she has been good in each of her two starts on this course and just requires luck from the outside barrier in a field of eleven to prove a factor.

3.34 p.m. R6 6 Beaumarchais (3 g Savabeel - Almaviva) - Michael McNab; quickened late to win the Rating 65 1400 metres on 23 January at Woodville, with McNab aboard, despite the slow footing not being to his liking, after resuming with a notable effort for fifth in the $50,000 Special Conditions 1400 metres on 1 January at Ellerslie. He should receive an economical trip from barrier two in the $22,500 Rating 75 1600 metres, was unlucky when denied room on debut at his only course attempt, and continues to improve.

4.09 p.m. R7 1 Hall of Fame (3 c Savabeel - Around the Clock) - Opie Bosson; unleashed a quick turn of foot to lead at the 300m and stuck to his guns in winning the $225,000 Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 14 January at Trentham, at his second start following a spell, having resumed with an impressive victory on Boxing Day in the 3YO 1400 metres at Ellerslie. Up in distance for the first time, along with a bulk of his rivals, in the $100,000 Darci Brahma Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m), he has opened a commanding $2.70 fixed odds favourite. He boasts the pedigree to run the trip, and further when considering the Derby distance of 2400 metres, and should prove very competitive with luck from barrier ten in what is sure to prove an exciting race.

4.09 p.m. R7 10 Shocking Luck (3 g Shocking - Shamardal Luck) - Cameron Lammas; looked a staying horse of considerable promise when winning the Maiden 2000 metres by two and a half lengths on 14 December at Matamata, with Lammas aboard, and was claimed late by a pretty handy type when up in grade last time out. Facing a rise in class for the $100,000 Darci Brahma Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m), he has the edge of staying success over his rivals and can test a few of these.