Te Akau Te Rapa Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on Saturday 30 April at Te Rapa.

Weather: fine, track: Good3, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast.

1:09 p.m. R2 2 Summer Monsoon (7 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Opie Bosson; remained back in a race where positions changed little in the Power Turf Sprint (Listed, 1200m) on 16 April at Hastings, and contests the $35,000 Open 1400 metres. Up in weights (59.5kg) having won the Stewards' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) during Cup Week at Riccarton, he won the corresponding race here last season carrying 51kg and looks in mix again from barrier one. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.

1:42 p.m. R3 2 Lord Cosmos (2 g Pierro - Cosmic Powers) - Opie Bosson; powered home stylishly to win a Maiden 2YO 1100 metres in December at New Plymouth, following a debut second, and was then spelled after the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) won by stable-mate Dynastic (Almanzor). Unpressured to win a trial on 19 April at Taupo, he chases well and rates a top three chance in the $30,000 2YO 1200 metres despite drawing the outside (12) - the first of two juveniles in this for trainer Mark Walker. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.40.

1:42 p.m. R3 9 Shanghai Tang (2 f Savabeel - Maxmara) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); was smart late to win a trial after contesting the pace on 19 April at Taupo, and debuts in the $30,000 2YO 1200 metres. Ideally drawn (4), an emulation of her trial effort would ensure a bold performance. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.75.

2:50 p.m. R5 1 Cote de Beaune (3 g Burgundy - Lucrative) - Opie Bosson; worked early but was equal to the task when winning the Join Team Te Akau - Shares Available 3YO 1200 metres here a fortnight ago and contests the $80,000 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). The winner of three from four, and also second, he rates a top three chance from barrier five - one of five stable representatives in the event. Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.40.

2:50 p.m. R5 3 Ragamuffin (3 g Belardo - Short Tale) - Jason Laking; beat subsequent impressive winning stable-mate Pisco Sour (I Am Invincible) over 1200 metres on 2 March at Hastings, and ran the fastest last 600m (35.7) when winning a Rating 65 1400 metres on 30 March at Matamata. He made ground from back in the same race as Cote de Beaune (above) here a fortnight ago and also contests the $80,000 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). He requires luck from barrier 15. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.50.

2:50 p.m. R5 6 Wairau Cove (3 g Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); got back last from a wide draw (14) before posting the fastest last 600m (34.3) for fourth when resuming in a Rating 65 1215 metres on 9 April at Rotorua, and likewise contests the $80,000 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). Impressive winning his Maiden over 1200 metres by five lengths, he has the ability to race well from barrier four. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $4.00.

2:50 p.m. R5 8 Shepherd's Delight (3 f Rip Van Winkle - Safari Sunset) - Andrew Calder; ran the fastest final 600m (35.0) coming from last to finish fifth in the same race as Cote de Beaune (above) here a fortnight ago and she too contests the $80,000 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). Second to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in the NZ 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), a Te Akau first four, she has talent but also requires luck from a tricky draw (11). Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.50.

2:50 p.m. R5 14 Synchronize (3 f Savabeel - Splits) - Matthew Cameron; spelled following a big effort for third in a Rating 74 1400 metres last October at Ashburton, and looked good in two recent trials for first and third respectively. Resuming in the $80,000 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m), she has the class to race well with any luck from barrier 12 - the final runner of the Te Akau quintet competing this feature. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.50.

3:22 p.m. R6 1 Challa (5 g Dissident - Are There Any) - Yuto Kumagai (a4); was never off the bridle winning a trial on 12 April at Avondale, and sustained a good gallop for second in a trial on 20 April at Matamata. A fresh-up course/distance winner at his only attempt, he has weight relief to 57kg and just requires a few favours from barrier 14 to race well in the $30,000 Rating 74 1200 metres - one of three stable representatives. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

3:22 p.m. R6 2 Aromatic (5 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay) - Opie Bosson; has two solid trial efforts under her belt and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. A winner to 1600 metres and wonderfully consistent with three wins and seven second placings from 11 starts, she carries plenty (60.5kg) and has unfortunately drawn wide (13) but has a record that cannot be overlooked. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.

3:22 p.m. R6 13 Highborn (4 m Savabeel - Tempo Manor) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); delivered again in a Rating 65 1200 metres on 16 March at Matamata, and ran the fastest last 600m (34.9) circling from last for second in a Rating 74 1200 metres on 8 April at Awapuni. Racing well, she too requires luck from difficult draw (11) in the $30,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

4:34 p.m. R8 1 Navalha (3 g Sebring - Afiado) - Opie Bosson; made up plenty with a strong finish for third in a Rating 74 1400 metres on 2 April at Avondale. He dwelt at the start and was held up before finishing second in a Rating 65 1400 metres here a fortnight ago, and rates a top three chance in the $30,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.40.