Te Akau Te Rapa Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Saturday 17 June at Te Rapa.

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: out 7 metres. 3mls rain forecast Friday and no rain Saturday. 

11:08 a.m. R1 3 The Mighty Spar (5 g Savabeel - O'Dianne) - Aaron Kuru; he made up a stack of ground for second in the 0-1 Win Hurdle (2500m) on 5 June at Hastings, and contests the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle (2800m). He was course/distance placed at his only prior hurdle start and rates a top three chance with the now international rider aboard. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.35. 

12:48 p.m. R4 4 Prismatic (4 g Savabeel - Kaleidoscope) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); he was unable to quicken on the Heavy10 going in the Rating 75 2000 metres here on 20 May, but finished strongly for third in the Rating 75 2200 metres on 5 June at Hastings. He powered home to win the Rating 65 1600 metres here on 6 May, has weight relief to 54kg and has first four claims with luck from barrier 12 in the $30,000 Rating 75 2100 metres. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00.

1:23 p.m. R5 4 Aquilo (5 g Frankel - Stormy Lucy) - Michael Roustoby (a1); he finished fourth in the 0-1 Win Steeplechase (4000m) on 5 June at Hastings, and contests the $30,000 Maiden Steeplechase (3900m). He was also fourth in the Open Hurdle (2800m) here on 6 May, and receives opportunity to improve further in his debut season over jumps. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $3.30. 

2:40 p.m. R7 2 Aotea Lad (6 g Savabeel - Corsage) - Ngakau Hailey (a4); he continued his good form with a notable third in the Open 1300 metres on 5 June at Hastings, and contests the $35,000 Open 1600 metres. he enjoys weight relief to 54.5kg, has a good course and distance record, and is a top three prospect from barrier five. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.85.

3:15 p.m. R8 3 Al Malik (3 g Zoustar - Mumtazaah) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); he circled with a strong finish for a close fourth in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 5 June at Hastings, and contests the $15,000 Maiden 1400 metres. Ideally drawn (3), he rates a top four chance in an even field. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $4.00. 

3:15 p.m. R8 8 Taviarma (3 f Tavistock - Veearma) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); she kept up strong gallop for second in a trial on 26 May at Waipa, and did well for second when resuming after a long lay-off on a Heavy10 track in the Pearl Series Maiden 1200 metres on 7 June at Matamata. She was runner-up in the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m) here at her only previous start, has the benefit of weight relief to 54.5kg, and presents as a top three prospect but will need luck from barrier 13 in the $15,000 Maiden 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.55.

4:23 p.m. R10 2 Hero Worship (4 g Xtravagant - Idol) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); he was unable to quicken on the Heavy10 going, but still wasn't far away in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 3 June at Avondale, and drops in grade here for the $30,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. He is better than his course record indicates, has weight relief to 58kg, he rates a top four chance but is another that will need an abundance of luck from a difficult gate (15). Fixed odds: $13.00 & $4.00. 

4:23 p.m. R10 6 Ragamuffin (4 g Belardo - Short Tale) - Hamish McNeill (a3); he raced in an improver's fashion when finishing third to stable-mate Freeze Frame (Vadamos) in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 3 June at Avondale, and also contests the $30,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. He has weight relief to 56kg, and is capable of a top four finish. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.