Te Akau Wairoa Sunday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has eight horses racing on Sunday 23 February at Wairoa.

Weather: overcast, track: Dead5, rail: true. 22mls rain forecast Saturday, 12mls Sunday.

1.05 p.m. R2 6 Irish Heart  (4 m O'Reilly - Rehab) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); followed a second and fourth since resuming with a fourth here on Thursday in the Maiden 1200 metres, ridden by Burdan. Ideally drawn (3) in the $10,000 Maiden 2YO & Up 1200 metres, she rates an each way chance if appreciative of a quick back-up. 

1.40 p.m. R3 5 Laureate  (3 g Snitzel - Floria) - Samantha Collett; bounced back when finishing third here to stable-mate Vicenza (Sacred Falls) on Thursday in the Maiden 1400 metres, with Collett aboard, and steps up in the $10,000 Maiden 1500 metres. He seems capable of another solid effort with luck from the outside gate (9).

2.15 p.m. R4 4 Markus Aurelius  (3 g Ghibellines - Evancho) - Samantha Collett; trialled well before a big run for second off a wide trip when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres on 2 February at Matamata. The form has stacked up, with third placed Victory Glory (Wandjina) winning last Sunday at Gisborne, and he appears ideally placed to threaten from barrier four in the $10,000 Maiden 1350 metres.

2.50 p.m. R5 10 Ristretto  (4 m Makfi - Espresso Cavallo) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); produced another notable effort for fourth last Sunday in the Rating 65 1200 metres at Gisborne, and contests the $10,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. She meets a slightly stronger field, yet should still race well from barrier four with weight relief to 54kgs. 

3.30 p.m. R6 2 Fabulous Flight  (5 g I Am Invincible - Court Flying) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); was without all favours when resuming with a good third in the Rating 72 1400 metres on 19 January at Te Rapa, running the fastest last 600m (33.2) on the day, before registering his fourth win in the Rating 72 1400 metres on 2 February at Matamata. Remaining in the same grade for the $12,000 Rating 72 1500 metres, and carrying a kilo less (57.5) courtesy of an apprentice claim, he rates a top three chance from barrier four. 

4.05 p.m. R7 6 Mongolianconqueror (5 g Ocean Park - Queen Rania) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); ran a good race for second here on Thursday in the Open 1900 metres to race rival Big Mike (Don Eduardo) and with the aid of weight relief to 51kgs he contests the $30,000 Affco NZ Wairoa Cup (Open, 2100m). Drawn barrier five, he rates an each way chance if appreciative of a quick back-up.

4.05 p.m. R7 7 Swing Note (5 m Encosta De Lago - Andallthatjazz) - Rosie Myers; produced a solid effort for second in the Rating 82 2200 metres on 17 January at Tauranga, and similar when second with Myers aboard in the Rating 82 2050 metres on 6 February at Tauherenikau. Placed here as a two-year-old at her only course attempt, she is a stakes winner (Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m)) and rates an each way chance from barrier two. 

4.35 p.m. R8 3 Beau Geste  (5 g Pour Moi - Villa Wanda) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); fought solidly for fourth after leading last Sunday in the Rating 65 1600 metres at Gisborne, and steps up in the $10,000 Rating 65 2100 metres. Three runs on the course have produced second, third, fourth, and drawn barrier two, with weight relief to 56kgs, he rates a top four chance. 

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