Te Akau Te Rapa Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has nine horses entered on Saturday 14 December at Te Rapa. 

Te Rapa:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:34 p.m. R1 8 Towering Vision (2 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision) – Opie Bosson; he began well to lead and responded gamely near the rail for a close second in a trial on 3 December at Pukekohe. Debuting in the $65,000 2YO 1100 metres, he should have gained valuable experience from his sole trial and is ideally drawn (3) to race well first-up - one of two juveniles on debut in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.05. 

12:34 p.m. R1 10 Dujardin (2 f Hello Youmzain – Equestrienne) – Wiremu Pinn; she went forward outside the leader and sustained a good gallop for a close second in a trial on 26 November at Taupo, also with Pinn aboard. She too debuts in the $65,000 2YO 1100 metres, is from a gifted family, and just requires some luck from barrier nine to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.15.

1:05 p.m. R2 1 Damask Rose (3 f Savabeel – Sombreuil) – Opie Bosson; she travelled third in a gap and ran home nicely in the straight for second when trialing on 26 November at Taupo, also with Bosson aboard. Resuming in the $65,000 3YO 1200 metres, she followed her debut win with a great effort for second in the Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) last season, and ran the fastest last 600m (33.1) for third when resuming in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes over 1200m earlier this season. A classy filly, she looks sure to be in the thick of proceedings at the business end - one of two stable runners lining up in the second race on the programme. Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.15.

1:05 p.m. R2 3 Maracatu (3 g Ardrossan – Cortado) – Wiremu Pinn; he began well from barrier one to lead, being joined by Group 1 winner Bonny Lass in the straight, and sustained a solid run for second in a trial on 26 November at Taupo. Also resuming in the $65,000 3YO 1200 metres, he performed well in three starts as two-year-old including a course win over 1100 metres, and shapes to race well first-up. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.50.

1:36 p.m. R3 4 Our Milly Bee (5 m Merchant Navy – Rina Bettina) – Opie Bosson; she raced well for third in the Rating 65 1950 metres on 19 November at Rotorua, and contests the $65,000 Rating 65 2200 metres. Av winner over 2200 metres last season, she is a very consistent performer, and possesses the ability to prove competitive if appreciative of the course at her first attempt. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

2:09 p.m. R4 1 Campionessa (7 m Contributer – Bella Carolina) – Opie Bosson; she did well for a close sixth in a thrilling finish to the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes over 1400m on 23 November at Pukekohe, and contests the Group 2 $175,000 Cal Izusu Stakes 1600m. She was poetry in motion winning this race last year, also with Bosson aboard, has a terrific course/distance record, and is perfectly drawn (3) to really make her presence felt in this event. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.50.

3:28 p.m. R6 10 Petrucci (5 m I Am Invincible – Via Napoli) – Michael McNab; she raced well for second in the Open Handicap 1340 metres on 23 November at Wanganui, and contests the Group 3 $120,000 J Swap Sprint 1400m. An impressive winner, she is also a dual Group 3 runner-up, and has the undoubted ability to prove competitive but will need a ton of luck from the outside gate (17) - one of two starters for the stable. Fixed odds: $20.00 & $5.50.

3:28 p.m. R6 13 What You Wish For (4 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Wiremu Pinn; the second runner in the Group 3 for the team settled back on the outer, seven lengths off the leaders at the 600m, was then travelling widest into the straight and ran home strongly for third in a trial on 3 December at Pukekohe, with Pinn aboard on that occasion too. He has raced well in all three starts this season, impressively winning twice, brings a very good course record in stakes' races to this challenge, and despite the tricky draw (13) can still prove competitive. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.60. 

5:12 p.m. R9 14 Francee (5 m Iffraaj – Calveen) – Wiremu Pinn; she ran the fastest last 600m (34.8) coming from well back to finish runner up in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 16 November at Tauranga, and was then squeezed out of contention when she much more to offer in the Rating 75 1400 metres last Saturday at Ellerslie. Contesting the $65,000 Rating 75 1500 metres, she meets a solid field but has strong first four claims - if she can navigate her wide barrier (15). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.10.