Te Akau Waipukurau Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing on Thursday 25 October at Waipukurau.

As on race morning the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true. No rain forecast.

1.40 p.m. R2 4 Rock Idol (4 g Rock ‘N' Pop - Edesia) - Shafiq Rusof; won a recent trial over 1250 metres at Taupo, and resumes in the $10,000 Maiden 1600 metres. A big staying type who was an orphan foal, he is likely to press forward and could keep on rolling to prove competitive.

2.17 p.m. R3 6 Icebomb (4 m Darci Brahma - Snowdonia) - Shafiq Rusof; blew past her rivals and was too good winning the Rating 65 1200 metres on 5 October at Tauranga, following a strong fresh-up second in the Rating 65 1230 metres on 16 September at Rotorua. Nicely drawn (3) in the $11,000 Rating 72 1200 metres, she is a very consistent mare, is stakes' placed, and has the ability to compete immediately in this grade.

2.52 p.m. R4 2 Jet Set (4 g Savabeel - Society Lady) - Shafiq Rusof; made ground when trialling over 1010 metres on 25 September at Te Teko, and debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Drawn out a touch (11), he has trial experience and receives an ideal opportunity to produce an encouraging performance.  One of two in the race for Te Akau.

2.52 p.m. R4 12 Mongolian Angel (3 f I Am Invincible - Pipette) - Leah Hemi; also debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. She won a 1050-metre trial a fortnight ago Taupo, without being fully extended. From a mare that won five races in Europe (1400m - 1900m), by an elite sprinting sire, she seems to be building nicely and rates a top four chance.

3.27 p.m. R5 6 English Rose (4 m Makfi - Bislieri) - Shafiq Rusof; closed solidly for fourth in the Maiden 1600 metres on 11 October at Tauherenikau, and steps in distance for the $10,000 Maiden 2100 metres. Third over 2000 metres in February at Hastings, she has registered some good performances and should be suited by the course to rate an each way chance.

4.07 p.m. R6 12 Tweet (3 f Burgundy - Trove) - Shafiq Rusof; stuck gamely off a wide trip to finish fourth when trialling over 1200 metres on 25 September at Te Teko, and debuts from barrier six in the $10,000 Maiden 1350 metres. From a family that hails from Hawkes Bay, she is a half-sister to Group Three winner of five races, Thrive (Colombia), and an encouraging performance would be ideal.

4.42 p.m. R7 1 Fabulous Flight (4 g I Am Invincible - Court Flying) - Shafiq Rusof; closed solidly for fourth in the Maiden 1200 metres at the last meeting here, 27 September, and steps up in the $10,000 Maiden 1350 metres. He was a smart trial winner in March at Taupo, before finishing third on debut over 1230 metres in April at Rotorua. A lovely type of horse with the depth of pedigree to keep improving, he appears an each way chance despite his awkward draw (14).