Te Akau Te Rapa/Trentham Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 19 horses entered on Saturday 17 December: Te Rapa, and Trentham.   

Te Rapa:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: out 11 metres. 10mls rain forecast Saturday.

2:28 p.m. R4 5 Prismatic (4 g Savabeel - Kaleidoscope) - Opie Bosson; he capped a hat-trick of seconds with success in the Maiden 2200 metres last Saturday at Awapuni, and steps up in the $30,000 Rating 65 2400 metres. While he is yet to start on the course and has drawn wide (16), he is racing genuinely and can be expected to go well again. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.

3:38 p.m. R6 1 Pure Imagination (4 g Darci Brahma - Granadilla) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he finished strongly off trailing to win a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Twice a winner over 1200 metres on soft footing, including course/distance on debut, the blinkers are on but he requires luck from his carpark draw (17). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

3:38 p.m. R6 6 Felicienne (4 m Savabeel - Flavigny) - Sam Weatherley; she stretched out nicely late for fourth in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, the same one won by Pure Imagination (above), and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Terrifically consistent, she ended her previous campaign finishing second over 1600 metres, won her Maiden at 1400 metres, and rates a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

3:38 p.m. R6 7 Stonybreck (3 g Tavistock - Fair Isle) - Opie Bosson; he finished second to stable-mate Kabugee (Satono Aladdin) in the 3YO 1215 metres on 16 October at Rotorua, was freshened, and was then held up with more to offer in a trial on 29 November at Avondale. Drawn in the 'carpark' (18), he requires luck to rate a top three chance in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.70.

3:38 p.m. R6 9 Baronet (3 g Contributer - Alpha Dame) - Samantha Spratt; he recorded a promising debut victory over 1200 metres in September and was freshened following the Rating 65 1400 metres on 8 October, both at Matamata. He finished back but looked fine in his action in a trial on 6 December at Waipa, but is another requiring luck from an even wider draw (19) than his stablemate above in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.50.

3:38 p.m. R6 12 Polly Plum (4 m Xtravagant - Herstory) - Ryan Elliot; she rounded off solidly for sixth in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres on 26 November at Wanganui, and contests the corresponding event. A course winner over 1300 metres, she is going well, but meets a stronger field and requires a decent trip from the tricky barrier 11. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.50.

3:38 p.m. R6 13 Sicilian Dream (4 m Dream Ahead - Taormina) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); she sustained a run for second in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and she resumes off 49 days in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She debuted with a terrific victory over 1215 metres in March at Rotorua, enjoys weight relief to 55kg, but requires luck from her wide draw (15). Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.50.

4:13 p.m. R7 6 Family Ties (3 f Contributer - Glamazon) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a); she had form around her, including finishing third to stablemate Wild Night (Vanbrugh), who subsequently won the Sarten Memorial (Gr. 2, 1400m) and is now four from five overall, before sustaining a strong finish to score comfortably in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 13 November at Hastings. Given time (34 days), she steps up in the $85,000 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and shapes to race well with a good dose of luck from her wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70.

4:13 p.m. R7 10 Sealed With A Kiss (3 f Tarzino - Postmans Daughter) - Opie Bosson; she responded to win a trial on 29 November at Avondale, before delivering a dominant debut victory in the Maiden 1200 metres on 7 December at Hastings. Stepping up in the $85,000 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), she has shown right attributes to handle the challenge. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.

4:13 p.m. R7 11 Tavernia (3 f Mongolian Khan - Chaparella) - Ryan Elliot; she has been given time (32 days) since finishing strongly on debut to win the Maiden 1230 metres on 15 November at Rotorua, and also steps up in the $85,000 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m). She is ideally drawn (2) to measure up at this level. Fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.00.

4:50 p.m. R8 2 Amalfi Prince (4 g Sebring - Campania) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he worked home nicely for fifth over the sprint trip in a trial on 6 December at Waipa, and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. He ended his previous campaign winning the Manawatu Classic (Gr. 3, 2000m) in April at Awapuni, trainer Mark Walker's first official raceday back at the Te Akau helm, and is capable of a bold showing fresh-up. Fixed odds: $31.00 & $8.50.

4:50 p.m. R8 3 Sophisticardo (4 g Burgundy - Glamorous Girl) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); he flew home to win the Rating 75 1200 metres on 29 October at Awapuni, before finding the heavy going too tough in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 19 November at Pukekohe. He has raced well here, has weight relief to 56.5kg, but requires luck from his nasty draw (20) in the $30,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $6.00.

4:50 p.m. R8 11 Shepherd's Delight (4 m Rip Van Winkle - Safari Sunset) - Opie Bosson; she ran out of room near the rail in the Rating 65 1400 metres here on 26 November and contests the $30,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. She finished second to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) last season and is capable of a bold effort. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

4:50 p.m. R8 17 Hero Worship (4 g Xtravagant - Idol) - unfixed; he produced an astonishing victory in the Rating 65 1050 metres 29 October at Matamata, and ran the fastest last 600m (34.7) for fifth in the Rating 75 1100 metres here on 26 November. He sits a three on the ballot in the $30,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, but is likely to gain a start and is capable with right trip from barrier 12. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.

Trentham:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: true. 10mls rain forecast Saturday.

12:25 p.m. R1 2 Valentine (2 g Turn Me Loose - Fastnet Rose) - Michael McNab; he finished off very well to win a trial on 6 December at Waipa, and debuts in the $30,000 2YO 1100 metres. He shows natural ability and is ideally placed to race well fresh-up in search of valuable Karaka Million dollars. Fixed odds: $2.20 & $1.10.

2:44 p.m. R5 12 Pisco Sour (4 m I Am Invincible - Refreshing) - Craig Zackey; she raced well for second in the Rating 75 1100 metres on 26 November at Te Rapa, and contests the $30,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. She impressed winning over 1200 metres last season and rates a top three contender from barrier four. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00.

3:54 p.m. R7 2 Brando (5 g Savabeel - Saoirse) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); he lost his spot late in the Eagle Technology Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 26 November at Te Rapa, and contests the $120,000 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m). Twice placed at Group One level, including here in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m), he seems capable of a bold showing from barrier three. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.30.

4:29 p.m. R8 5 La Flora Belle (5 m Iffraaj - Tsarina Belle) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); she proved too strong in the Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2040m) on 26 November at Wanganui, and contests the $100,000 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (Gr. 3, 2300m). She again carries the minimum weight (53kg), has no reason not to handle the course at her first attempt, and rates a top three chance - one of two in the feature for the stable. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

4:29 p.m. R8 6 Soprano Supreme (5 m Contributer - Falsetto) - Craig Zackey; she unleashed wide on the track to win the Rating 75 2400 metres on 26 November at Te Rapa, and also contests the $100,000 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (Gr. 3, 2300m). She too carries the minimum weight (53kg), her dam Falsetto (Zabeel) finished third here in NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), and she looks a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.