Te Akau Weekend NZ & Australia Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses racing at two venues on Saturday 15 October.

Ashburton:

As on Friday 14 October the conditions were: overcast and Dead5, true. 15mls rain forecast Friday.

3.43 p.m. R7 2 Tavis Star (5 m Tavistock - Megapins) - Matt Cameron; resumes off 91 days in the $20,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. A Maiden winner on heavy footing, and runner-up on six occasions since, she richly deserves further success. A downgrade in track conditions from Dead5 should hold no fears and her best form would test this field. She is also an acceptor at 12.50 p.m. in race two, but requires a further defection to become eligible for a start.

4.18 p.m. R8 1 Heroic Valour (3 c Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Matt Cameron; led early before racing handy and finishing third in the $100,000 Sacred Falls' Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) at Hastings, after resuming with a thrilling victory in the $50,000 Tavistock Northland Breeders' Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Ruakaka. Slow8 footing appeared disadvantageous to his action at Hastings and the best outcome for his prospects in the $50,000 Barneswood Farm Stakes (Listed, 1400m) would be for the forecast rain to abate. As a Group One winner of the $200,000 Diamond Stakes, he certainly has the class to become the seventh winner of the race trained by Te Akau. He was a $3.30 fixed odds second favourite, behind Sweet Leader (O'Reilly) at $2.80.

4.18 p.m. R8 7 O'Naturelle (3 f O'Reilly - Naturo) - Michael McNab; came from last at the 550m when finishing third to race rivals La Diosa (So You Think) and Starvoia (Starcraft) in the $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Riccarton, after making ground stylishly to win on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres at Taupo. Talented, some yielding of the ground may not dent her chances in the $50,000 Barneswood Farm Stakes (Listed, 1400m). She was at $12.50 & $3.40 fixed.

4.48 p.m. R9 1 Imperium (5 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal) - Matt Cameron; stripped in terrific order second up and acted accordingly with a big effort for second after being used early in the $20,000 Rating 65 2000 metres at Riccarton. Drawn barrier one in the $20,000 Rating 65 2100 metres should allow him to receive a cosy trip and both his wins have been recorded on slow ground.

Caulfield, Melbourne:

As on Thursday 13 October the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail out six metres. No rain forecast.

5.45 p.m. (NZT 7.45 p.m.) R7 12 Shillelagh (5 m Savabeel - Trocair) - Zac Purton; whistled home to snatch victory in the $40,000 Ladbrokes Up For the Challenge Handicap, Benchmark 84 1440 metres, on Saturday 1 October at Caulfield. She failed to make the field here on Wednesday for the $150,000 Ladies Day Vase (Gr. 3, 1600m) and instead takes her place in the $215,000 Schweppes Tristarc Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m). Drawn barrier seven in the race for mares, she has the services a rider currently ranked second in Hong Kong, and was around $10 in the early market - Tycoon Tara (Written Tycoon) was favourite at $2.80.

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