Te Akau Trentham Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Saturday 16 January at Trentham.

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

1.55 p.m. R4 1 Quattro Quinta (2 g Darci Brahma - Quintette) - Danielle Johnson; was professional winning comfortably on debut in September at Ellerslie, second in the Pearl Series 2YO 1000 metres on 7 November at Te Rapa, and second again off a wide run in the Fasttrack Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on 21 November at Pukekohe. Freshened, he kept up a strong gallop to win when trialling on Tuesday at Matamata, and rates a top three chance in the $50,000 IRT No. 1 Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1000m). Fixed odds: $2.05 & $1.20.

3.05 p.m. R6 1 Brando (3 c Savabeel - Saoirse) - Danielle Johnson; charged home for victory in the 3YO 1200 metres on 12 December at Te Rapa, and sprinted clear to win untouched in the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie - one of six wins in a record-breaking day for trainer Jamie Richards. A readymade favourite for the $225,000 Devan Plastics Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m), he looks tough to beat. Fixed odds: $1.75 & $1.20.

4.15 p.m. R8 8 Avantage (5 m Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Danielle Johnson; recorded her fifth Group 1 victory when resuming in the Railway (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, and set to defend her title in the $250,000 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (Gr. 1, 1200m). She was colossal winning last year and appears tough to beat again with luck from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $1.65 & $1.10.

4.15 p.m. R8 11 Burgundy Belle (5 m Burgundy - Spin ‘N Grin) - Samantha Collett; ran very well for fourth in the J Swap Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 12 December at Te Rapa, and held together finishing clear second when trialling on Tuesday at Matamata. A course winner at her only attempt, she brings a strong race record and can prove competitive in the $250,000 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (Gr. 1, 1200m). Fixed odds: $26.00 & $4.60.