Te Akau Te Rapa Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has nine horses entered on Sunday 15 September at Te Rapa. 

Te Rapa: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: out 5 metres. 25mls rain forecast Saturday, 4mls Sunday. 

11:43 a.m. R1 1 Egyptian Queen (4 m Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Jess Allen (a2); she began smartly from a wide gate to lead and quickened well on Heavy10 footing to win when trialling here on 6 August. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, she placed in both the Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1340m) and Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) last season. She enjoys weight relief to 58kg with the Te Akau apprentice engaged, has undoubted speed and rates a top three chance despite drawing wide (12). Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.70. 

12:16 p.m. R2 4 Wild Night (5 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Opie Bosson; the first of a Te Akau duo contesting this race, he improved to third in the open 600m, but finished back when unable to quicken on heavy ground in a trial here on 6 August. Resuming in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres, he is the winner of six from 13, including Group 2 Sarten Memorial here, possesses a good course/distance record, and will be looking to recapture that form - it's been a long time, welcome back Morrie!! Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30. 

12:16 p.m. R2 6 Romancing The Moon (5 m El Roca – Underthemoonlight) – Vinnie Colgan; she worked hard on pace before being collared when resuming in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) here on 24 August, and she too contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres. A Group One winner, she brings a very good 1200-metre record to this contest and receives the opportunity to show improvement. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95.

12:58 p.m. R3 4 Aotea Lad (8 g Savabeel – Corsage) – Nick Downs; he finished among the minors after travelling second in the Rating 75 2000 metres on 4 September at Matamata, and makes his jumps' debut in the $20,000 Maiden Hurdle (2800m). He finished second in a hurdle trial on 29 August at Cambridge, and this grand stable statesman who we know as Connor will be an interesting runner in a good line-up. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25. 

4:05 p.m. R8 2 Campionessa (7 m Contributer – Bella Carolina) – Ngakau Hailey (a3); she ran home fine for a staying mare over a sprint trip when trialling on 21 August at Taupo, and resumes in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. She won two Group Two races before success in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) and subsequently won the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield in Melbourne last season. She has a very good course/distance record, enjoys weight relief to 59.5kg, but does prefer reasonable ground as she runs with the memory of her recently departed sire - one of a stable duo contrasting the event. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.25. 

4:05 p.m. R8 5 Elegant Lady (5 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Wiremu Pinn; the second mare in the field for one of the flat features, she also ran home solidly for a staying type over a sprint trip when trialling on 3 September at Cambridge (poly-track), and she too resumes in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. She recorded hat-trick of wins before being stakes' placed in the both the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) and Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) last season. Carrying the minimum weight (54kg), she has delivered two wins on soft ground, is ideally drawn (2), and look for her to be finding the line with purpose. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $2.70. 

4:40 p.m. R9 1 Cognito (5 g So You Think – Lady Primrose) – Rihann Goyaram (a4); the first of a stable trio contesting the last race, he sustained a strong gallop for second in trial here on 6 August, and was not asked for too much when finishing fourth in trial on 21 August at Taupo. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, he's recorded three wins at this distance, including the Group 2 Wellington Guineas over 1400m and performs well in a fresh state, however the key here is navigating his very tricky gate (13). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.70.

4:40 p.m. R9 3 Trobriand (4 g Kermadec – Arboreal) – Opie Bosson; the second starter for the team in this, he charged away for fresh-up victory in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 21 August at Taupo, also with Bosson aboard, and likewise contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. The Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) winner as two-year-old, he has won two from three on this course, and was highly consistent against the best of his age last season. While he carries 60kg, he rates a top three chance as another who will need a good dose of luck from his wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.60.

4:40 p.m. R9 4 What You Wish For (4 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Jess Allen (a2); the third stable runner in the last race, he came from last to win impressively when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 21 August at Taupo, and also contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. He ended his previous campaign following the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) and was an impressive two-year-old winner over 1300 metres. Stakes' placed here, he has key weight relief to 57.5kg, and can deliver a top three result if he too can overcome his difficult draw (10). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $3.10.