Te Akau Wanganui Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Sunday 27 April at Wanganui. 

Wanganui:

Weather: cloudy, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres from 1200m – 325m, remainder true. Showers forecast. 

12:27 p.m. R1 6 Presence Of Mind (2 f Fastnet Rock – Supreme Mind) – Joe Doyle; she began well, co-leading turning for home, quickened to advantage, and lifted when challenged late to win a trial on 1 April at Ellerslie. Debuting in the $35,000 2YO 1200 metres, she boasts a terrific pedigree, looked good in sole trial, and rates a top three chance if she handles the prevailing track conditions. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.20. 

1:41 p.m. R3 14 Queen Of Naples (3 f Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time) – Courtney Barnes; she jumped well to race wide near the pace, was forced four-wide turning for home, and sustained a good gallop for fourth in a trial on 3 April at Ellerslie. Making her debut in the $20,000 Maiden 2yo & Up 1350 metres, her dam Tiffany’s Time (Alamosa) was trained by Te Akau to win twice over 1400 metres, and while she is capable of solid showing first-up, she will need a lot to go her way from the wide gate (17). Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.60.

3:37 p.m. R6 6 War Of Succession (4 g Tavistock – Ziffel) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1); he secured a nice spot in midfield and ran home well to finish close up in a trial on 1 April at Ellerslie. Resuming in the $35,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, he was off the scene for a lengthy period after a clear-cut Maiden 1950 metres win. His pedigree suggests he was bred to stay, and he has the ability to prove competitive with improvement to come. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.40.

4:15 p.m. R7 10 Charmrose (4 m Charm Spirit – Sovereign Rose) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1); she showed pace to cross and lead before being nutted by a short head for second in the Special Conditions 1200 metres on 8 February at Te Rapa. Freshened since, and contesting the $35,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, she broke 1:10 when winning the Maiden 1200 metres here two starts ago, and from barrier two can make an impact at the business end of this event. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.95. 

4:53 p.m. R9 13 Francee (5 m Iffraaj – Calveen) – Joe Doyle; she sustained a strong finish to win the Pearl Series Final Rating 72 Fillies & Mares 1400m on 8 March and emulated that effort with a close third in the Rating 75 1500 metres on 5 April, both at Ellerslie. Originally programmed to race at the abandoned Awapuni meeting on ANZAC Day, she remained south to contest the rescheduled $80,000 Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac Mile. While this is a step up in class, she is racing in fine fettle, enjoys the minimum weight (53kg), and is more than capable of a top four finish. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $2.60. 

Main picture - Charmrose winning previously on course