Te Akau Wairoa Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has nine horses racing on Thursday 23 February at Wairoa, Hawkes Bay.

As on Wednesday 22 February the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true. No rain forecast.

12.17 p.m. R1 10 Zip Zap (3 f Stravinsky - Miss Zapper) - Cameron Lammas; took over ominously approaching the home turn, after racing handy, but was unable to sustain her run in the heavy going over a mile last Sunday at Gisborne. She had been finding the line encouragingly in recent races and can turn things around on better ground in the Maiden 1900 metres.

1.27 p.m. R3 5 More Than Fast (4 g Fastnet Rock - Morgalicious) - Cameron Lammas; was scratched off slow track conditions last Friday at Wanganui, and drawn barrier four in the Maiden 1200 metres. He raced very well on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 1 February at Hastings, angling clear off the trial and finishing solidly in tight quarters for a close second. With blinkers and a tongue tie added, he looks a good each way chance.

2.37 p.m. R5 11 Abloom (3 f Darci Brahma - Corsage) - Cameron Lammas; found the Heavy10 track conditions too testing in the Maiden 1400 metres on Sunday at Gisborne, and drawn barrier five in the corresponding event. She found the line from back in the field for fourth on 1 February in the Maiden 3YO 1300 metres at Hastings, after racing into second over 1200 metres on 12 January at Wanganui, and her prospects continue to improve as the footing does.

3.47 p.m. R7 6 Fastnet Fire (4 m Fastnet Rock - Dragon's Tail) - Alysha Collett; was scratched from racing on the Heavy10 footing at Gisborne, and drawn barrier four in the Rating 65 1900 metres. She ran on solidly for third to subsequent Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m) winning stable-mate Gingernuts (Iffraaj) in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 30 January at Te Teko, and kept going solidly past the post. She should go well again with the addition of a tongue tie in a field of ten for the Rating 65 1900 metres.

3.47 p.m. R7 8 Amperage (4 g Zabeel - Miss Zapper) - Cameron Lammas; had little more than a run around when unable to cope with the heavy ground on Sunday at Gisborne, and backs up in the Rating 65 1900 metres. He showed to handle a quick turnaround when winning here over 2100 metres last year, after racing three times in a week, and should continue to improve on better footing.

4.21 p.m. R8 3 King Kane (3 g Showcasing - Vannista Belle) - Alysha Collett; felt the pinch after being trapped wide near the pace in the Rating 65 2000 metres on 1 February at Hastings, and drawn barrier five in the Rating 65 1900 metres. He displayed good attributes winning over a mile in November and with an economical trip has the ability to be competitive in this field.

4.21 p.m. R8 8 Paradise Rock (4 g Fastnet Rock - Apple Charlotte) - Cameron Lammas; did himself no favours when pulling hard in front and never appreciated the heavy going in the Rating 65 2000 metres on Sunday at Gisborne. He can prove a different proposition on much improved ground, providing he settles in the Rating 65 1900 metres.

4.57 p.m. R9 3 Colorado Prince (3 g Alamosa - Sweet Dreams Baby) - Cameron Lammas; was scratched off slow track conditions last Friday at Wanganui, and takes his place in the Rating 65 1400 metres. He won well on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 2 January at Tauherenikau, before a close fifth, despite over-racing on a moderate pace, in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 30 January at Te Teko. With a shadow roll added to his gear, and back on a left-handed track, the half-brother to stakes winning stable-mates Darci's Dream (Darci Brahma) and Windborne (Darci Brahma) can prove a force in this field.

4.57 p.m. R9 12 Smoke House Bay (4 m Eighth Wonder - Makesmewonder) - Alysha Collett; found the Heavy10 footing well beyond her when racing on Sunday at Gisborne, and drawn barrier four in the Rating 65 1400 metres. She never saw daylight and went to the line untested when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 1 February at Hastings, won her Maiden over 1400 metres on Good3, and should prove a different proposition on better ground.