Te Akau Triple Attack

Te Akau New Zealand has nine horses racing at three venues on Saturday October 26. One horse is entered during the nine-race premier programme at Trentham, four on the nine-race card at Ellerslie, and four on the nine-race card at Riccarton.

Trentham:

As at 2:03pm on Thursday Oct. 24 the conditions were: drizzling and Dead6, rail true.

4:58pm R8 5 King's Rock (3 c Fastnet Rock - Nureyev's Girl) - Hayden Tinsley; has freshened nicely since producing a solid performance for a close up fifth on Sept. 29 in the Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on Slow9 footing at Elllerslie. On debut prior, he sustained a big finish to win over 1400 metres in 1:25.55 on footing upgraded to Slow7 at Te Rapa. Ideally drawn in barrier six for the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1500m), he is a horse likely to keep improving and brings both the right form and attributes to pose a threat.

Ellerslie:

As at 8:16am on Thursday Oct. 24 the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail out 10 metres.

12:42pm R1 5 Sunset Pass (5 g Yamanin Vital - Janet's Chance) - Mick Dee (a3); comes in off 27-days having finished third on Sept. 29 in the Maiden Hurdle 2400 metres at Te Rapa. A winner on the flat two starts ago, in the Maiden 1800 metres on Aug. 19 at Taupo, he claims a valuable three-kilos to carry 55kgs from barrier one in the Benchmark 65 2400 metres. He too is a horse that continues to get better as he matures and possesses the ability to be competitive in this field.

1:16pm R2 8 Flaming (2 f Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - Mark Hills; makes her debut from barrier seven in the 2YO 880 metres. A sister to talented galloper Shanghai Bund and half-sister to Smoulder (Traditionally), winner of both the Foal Stakes (Listed, 1400m) and Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) on this course, she has finished strongly for fourth and third respectively in two trials. Likely to settle off the pace, she has the strength and professionalism to go well first up.

1:51pm R3 6 Darci's Dream (2 f Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby) - Mick Dee (a3); makes her debut from barrier six in the second of the 2YO 880 metres. After winning her first trial easily, off the front, over 600 metres at Te Teko, she never received cover yet still found the line nicely under her own steam over 800 metres at Cambridge. Having shown the precocity to master a short trip, she is set to carry only 52kgs and brings the right tools to prove effective.

3:35pm R6 5 Prospero (6 g High Chaparral - Alfred's Jewel) - Mick Dee (a3); resuming from an 85-day let up on Oct. 12 in the Benchmark 75 1600 metres on Slow9 at Matamata, he was slowly away, tracked last in a field of eight, and rounded off solidly for fourth. He now steps to 2400 metres and will ridden quietly from a wide gate. His only previous course attempt resulted in a late closing fourth over 2200 metres. Trainer Jason Bridgman would like to see give in the ground for this horse to show his best.

Riccarton:

As at 10:29 on Thursday Oct. 24 the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 7 - 9 metres.

2:15pm R3 2 Appellation (2 c Pentire - Tattinger) - Matt Cameron; shone through in his first trial when jumping well from the inside gate he hugged the rail and quickened under minimal urging to win by three and a half lengths on Oct. 8 over 650 metres at Cambridge. He makes his debut from barrier six over 800 metres. From the family of impressive winners: Satinka, and She Wishes, the dam of Rangirandoo, he is a good-looking young horse with the strength to make an impact.

4:35pm R7 13 Viana (5 m Volksraad - Hecuba) - Matt Cameron; had no room inside the final 150 metres over a mile last Saturday at Ashburton, and steps up in distance to contest the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m), from barrier one, under the minimum weight of 53kgs. A course/distance winner at the cup meeting last November, she comes into this race in terrific condition and appears a genuine chance in an even field.

5:10pm R8 2 All Decked Out (3 c Darci Brahma - Diamond Deck) - Matt Cameron; raced handy and looked the winner, only to be beaten by a nose on Oct. 5 in the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) on good footing at Hastings. Off a 63-day let up prior, in the Westbury 3YO Challenge (Listed, 1200m) at Ruakaka, he circled wide from twelve lengths off the lead at the 800 metres and sustained a massive run for third to El Roca. Having pleased trainer Jason Bridgman in his lead up work, he is strongly favoured from barrier six to win the Canterbury Stakes (Listed, 1600m) - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

5:10pm R8 7 King Savinsky (3 g Savabeel - Lynisky) - Jillian Morris; loomed into contention rounding the home turn but became unbalanced when shying at the starting gates on the side of the track and once balanced stretched out nicely for second to Puccini on Oct. 9 over 1800 metres at Taupo. Prior to, off a 49-day break on Sept. 14 over 1400 metres on Dead4 footing at Ruakaka, he burst through the pack with a big finish for second to winning stable-mate Aspen (Alamosa). Drawn barrier two, he should be suited by the roomy track and has the ability to threaten.

Back