Te Akau Te Rapa Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses entered for the nine-race programme on Saturday August 16 at Te Rapa.

As on Friday Aug. 15 the conditions were: fine and Slow9, rail true.

2.32 p.m. R5 2 Prospero (7 g High Chaparral - Alfred's Jewel) - Matt Cameron; fought well for fourth here on July 19 in a higher grade and with an off speed racing style he should be suited in a small field for the Benchmark 75 2100 metres. A bit of extra time (28-days) since last racing should also aid his prospects and the amount of give in the ground can see him competitive.

3.37 p.m. R7 14 Spellbinder (4 m O'Reilly - Scenic Sprint) - Matt Cameron; completed a great season at three, as a dual stakes' winner and three times stakes placed, with four wins from only eight starts. Although without a trial she presents in a forward state for the Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m), where she takes on older horses for the first time under weight-for-age conditions. Impressive winning on debut last season and even more emphatic second up by six and a half lengths in the Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Slow9 going at Ellerslie, she displayed her affinity for give in ground. Expected to race in or near the lead from barrier two, she possesses a mixture of athleticism and tenacity that can see her claim spoils early in the season.

4.12 p.m. R8 1 All Decked Out (4 h Darci Brahma - Diamond Deck) - Leith Innes; worked home amongst runners when resuming off 212-days in the Benchmark 65 1200 metres three weeks ago at Ruakaka, with this rider aboard. He now steps up to 1400 metres and has blinkers on for the assignment. Both Jason Bridgman and The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams harbour some reservations regarding his ability to operate on slow going and will make a final decision closer to the time.