Te Akau Trentham, Te Rapa & Rosehill Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has twelve horses racing at three venues on Saturday 18 March: Te Rapa, Trentham, and Rosehill.

Te Rapa:

As on Friday 17 March the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail out 4 metres. No rain forecast.

12.35 p.m. R1 7 Astrid (5 m Pins - Astralita) - Craig Grylls; had her quickening abilities thwarted by Slow8 footing on 18 February at New Plymouth, but still rolled on through the line solidly in the Rating 85 1400 metres and now contests the $25,000 Rating 85 1400 metres. She presented in first-class condition prior to trailing the leader and recording an impressive win here in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 22 January, and drawn to emulate from barrier two. Fixed odds: $8.80 & $2.40.

4.53 p.m. R8 6 Wide Awake (3 g Savabeel - Kay's Awake) - Rory Hutchings; displayed plenty of raw ability when clearing Maiden ranks here on 1 March over 1600 metres and up in grade he contests the $30,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. His two previous starts this time in had plenty of merit, certainly shows a liking for this course, with two attempts rendering a third and first respectively, and luck in running from barrier eleven can see him competitive.

4.53 p.m. R8 15 Tatters (4 m Tavistock - Rattle) - Shaun McKay; travelled on the bridle in fifth and ran home strongly for second in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 1600 metres on 22 February at Avondale, with the winner Dreamcrafter (Mastercraftsman) subsequently stakes placed in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m) at Ellerslie. She made good headway from last, for sixth, here two starts ago, clocking the fastest final 600m (34.4), in the Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres, has included a win and second in three starts on the course and ideally drawn in barrier four to make an impression.

Trentham:

As on Friday 17 March the conditions were: fine and Dead6, rail true. No rain forecast.

12.55 p.m. R2 8 Royal Success (4 g Savabeel - Royal Show) - Michael McNab; reduced the margin powerfully from last, for fifth, after being awkwardly away when resuming off 91 days in the Rating 85 1400 metres on 4 March at Ellerslie. At his previous start he made it four wins in a row with a top fresh-up performance in the Rating 85 1400 metres on this course in December, running a good quality time: 1:22.9, last 600m 33.8. Drawn barrier four in the $30,000 Rating 85 1400 metres, he effectively remains in the same grade with a 2.5kg penalty to carry 56.5kgs and warrants favouritism from barrier four. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.35.

1.30 p.m. R3 6 Heart of Courage (2 c Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Michael McNab; made good headway for fourth in his first trial, on 7 February at Matamata, before galloping home boldly from third, without much urging, to win well in his next trial outing three weeks ago at Avondale. On debut from barrier six in the $30,000 2YO 1200 metres, the brother to stable-mate Heroic Valour, who finished Second Top Two-Year-Old in the 2015/16 NZ Free Handicaps after being unbeaten in three starts, including the $200,000 Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m), should be appreciative of the course and finding the line accordingly.

2.46 p.m. R5 12 Our Abbadean (4 m Lookin at Lucky - Highland Lights) - Cameron Lammas; continued her fine form with a strong finish for second in the Rating 75 2000 metres on 25 February at Matamata, and steps up in class to contest the $70,000 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m). Coincidentally, Our Abbadean is bred and owned by the race sponsor. Three starts ago she finished strongly for fourth here in the Douro Cup (Rating 85, 1600m) and a top five finish is well within her capabilities providing the footing continues to improve. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $4.20.

3.21 p.m. R6 4 Kingsman (3 c Darci Brahma - Society Lady) - Cameron Lammas; recovered after a slow beginning to finish third in the Mongolian Khan Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m), for three-year-olds, on 4 March at Ellerslie, and remains against his own age group in the $100,000 Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). He meets a strong field, but showed his talent when finishing third in the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) and appears in the right fettle to prove competitive with luck from a wide gate. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20.

3.21 p.m. R6 13 Sassy ‘N' Smart (3 f Smart Missile - Panorama Ridge) - Jonathan Parkes; resumed off 158 days making good ground from last to finish sixth in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 22 February at Avondale, and drew barrier seven in the $100,000 Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). A two-year-old winner of the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) and beaten a nose in the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m), last season, she has won second up previously and has the quality to make her presence felt. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.60.

3.56 p.m. R7 5 Smashing (5 m Pins - Ruud Van Slaats) - Cameron Lammas; was the recipient of deft placement and training by Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards when coming off 49 days to win the Open 1200 metres on 25 February at Matamata, running a slick time: 1:09.1 and final 600m in 33.8. Drawn barrier three in the $50,000 Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200 metres), a race in which she produced a slashing performance for third last year under the same weight (53kgs), her course record and association with Lammas are pointers towards another top run. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.60.

4.36 p.m. R8 3 Dame Margo Fonteyn (3 f High Chaparral - Dancing Forever) - Jonathan Parkes; received a lovely trip and fought hard for a close third in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m) on 4 March at Ellerslie, second up after a 66-day break, indicating her prowess against the best of her age and sex. Drawn barrier six in the $300,000 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), she has been nicely handled by the trainers and boasts the size, strength, and pedigree to give a good account in what shapes as an exciting race. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

4.36 p.m. R8 10 Fashionably (3 f Redoute's Choice - Scarlett Lady) - Cameron Lammas; became a victim of circumstances when hemmed up by horses making early moves, but once clear she finished strongly for a close fifth in the Lowland Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m) on 2 March at Hastings, and in doing so earned a start in the $300,000 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). Drawn to receive an economical trip from barrier two, her dam Scarlett Lady (Savabeel) won the Queensland Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) and this filly has the right credentials and attributes to emulate her mother if everything pans out accordingly. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

Rosehill, Sydney:

As on Friday 17 March the conditions were: showery and Heavy9, rail out 3 metres. 30mls rain forecast race day.

5.25 p.m. (NZ time) R6 2 Gingernuts (3 g Iffraaj - Double Elle) - Opie Bosson; capped a meteoric rise in the three-year-olds ranks when finishing with powerful strides to win the $1m Vodafone NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) on 4 March at Ellerslie, having staged a stunning win in the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m) on the same course a fortnight earlier. Now taking on the best in Australia, he contests the $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m) as a forerunner to the $2m Australian Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) on 1 April at Randwick. He proved himself superior on slow going in the Avondale Guineas, barrier four appears ideal, and as equal second favourite ($6.00) in the Australian markets a performance in keeping with his support is very much on the cards.