Te Akau Terang Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Sunday 19 April at Terang (Victoria). 

Terang:

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy8, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

2:20 p.m. (NZ) - 12:20 p.m. (Vic) R1 9 West Indies (4 g Fastnet Rock – Anchovy) – Jordan Hart (a3); he applied early pressure on the leaders before finishing among the minors in the Benchmark 62 2025 metres on 27 March at Cranbourne, and has since finished fourth in a hurdle trial on 8 April at Hamilton. Making his jumps’ debut in the A$35,000 Maiden Hurdle (3200m), he receives a good opportunity to commence his new career with an encouraging performance.

3.40 p.m. (NZ) - 1:40 p.m. (Vic) R3 6 Fierce Flight (7 g Flying Artie – First Bloom) – Martin Kelly; he finished third when resuming in the Open Hurdle (3200m) on 26 March at Warrnambool, and contests the A$35,000 Benchmark 115 Hurdle (3200m). A stakes' winner in New Zealand, he was also twice Group Three placed among six wins to 2200 metres. He’s recorded a win and two seconds from five hurdle starts, and will strip fitter for this assignment.

4:55 p.m. (NZ) - 2:55 p.m. (Vic) R5 2 Leaderboard (11 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy) – Will Gordon; he rallied to finish fourth when resuming in the Open Steeplechase (3450m) on 26 March at Warrnambool, and contests the A$75,000 J.E.H Spencer Memorial Steeplechase (3850m). Seeking to defend his title after winning the corresponding race last year, he was last season’s Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) winner, and is an outstanding jumper. He has won 12 races in total, and rates a top three chance in small field of just four starters - with two from the Te Akau stable. 

4:55 p.m. (NZ) - 2:55 p.m. (Vic) R5 3 The Mighty Spar (8 g Savabeel – O’Dianne) – Martin Kelly; he finished off strongly for second when resuming in the Open Steeplechase (3450m) on 26 March at Warrnambool, and also contests the A$75,000 J.E.H Spencer Memorial Steeplechase (3850m). He was runner-up to Leaderboard (above) in the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m), boasts an outstanding jumps’ record, as well as excellent course and distance record, and he too has top three credentials in this compact field.

Main picture - The Mighty Spar salutes last season