Te Akau Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses entered for the ten-race premier programme at Trentham, and two on the nine-race card at Pukekohe, Saturday Jan. 18.

Trentham:
As on Thursday Jan. 16 the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail true.

1:51pm R3 7 Smashing (2 f Pins - Ruud Van Slaats) - Matt Cameron; displayed a good action and all-round attributes when winning a trial on Dec. 17 over 650 metres at Te Aroha, and continued in the same vein when winning impressively off the front on debut in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres on Dec. 27 at New Plymouth. Up in class, drawn barrier one in the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m), she presents as a worthy representative and one capable forcing the issue.

4:26pm R7 2 Chambord (3 g Zabeel - Miss Montjeu) - Matt Cameron; overcame a bad check near the home turn, and again mid-straight, before finding the line for third on Boxing Day in the Great Northern Guineas (Gr. 2, 1600m) at Ellerslie. At his previous start he finished second in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), after coming from last when runner-up to stable-mate Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) in the Ray Coupland Stakes (Listed, 1400m). Ear covers go on to help him settle and the job is made no easier by drawing the outside gate in a field of twelve for the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m), but he is a proven athlete and up to the best in this field - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

4:26pm R7 10 Aspen (3 c Alamosa - Kirin Belle) - Leith Innes; suffered less interference when coming from a handier position to finish alongside Chambord in fourth on Boxing Day in the Great Northern Guineas (Gr. 2, 1600m) at Ellerslie. He should receive a lovely trip from barrier two in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) and his last start performance puts him right in the picture here.

5:06pm R8 13 Bronte Lass (5 m Stravinsky - Little Dorritt) - Leith Innes; was never able to clear traffic on Dec. 28 in the Benchmark 85 1600 metres at Ellerslie. At her previous start, she put in a terrific sprint from beyond midfield for third to Sacred Star (Flying Spur) on premier day in the Benchmark 85 1600 metres at Te Rapa. Drawn nicely in barrier five for the Anniversary Handicap (Listed, 1600m), she is a mare that can quicken appreciably on good footing and weighted on the minimum with 53kgs she shapes as a genuine chance in this field - one of two in the race for Te Akau.

5:06pm R8 15 Abidewithme (4 m Redoute's Choice - Crimson) - Matt Cameron; brings the best form to this race after seeing off subsequent Rich Hill Mill (Gr. 2, 1600m) winner Chintz (Savabeel) with a terrific effort to win on Boxing Day in the Benchmark 85 1400 metres at Ellerslie. The winner of five from eight, including the Ray Coupland Stakes (Listed, 1400m) as a three-year-old, she will require some luck in negating a wide barrier but has the class to do so.

Pukekohe:
As on Thursday Jan. 16 the conditions were: cloudy and Dead4, rail true.

2:46pm R5 11 Riverenza (4 m King's Chapel - Sea Rhythm) - Alex Forbes; put in some good late strides for fourth to The Fire Inside (Sir Percy) after an economical trip midfield on the rail in the Benchmark 65 2100 metres on Jan. 2 at Tauranga. Better for it, she comes into the corresponding race at her third start this time in and has drawn nicely in barrier seven. A repeat of her last effort would make her competitive in this field.

5:26pm R9 12 Stylee (4 m Pins - Arletty) - Alex Forbes; has been given time since finishing seventh in tight quarters on Dec. 18 in the Benchmark 65 1600 metres at Matamata. Resuming from a 277-day break on Dec. 2, she made plenty of ground for third in a good field over 1400 metres Te Aroha. She has the ability to prove competitive from barrier four in the Benchmark 65 1600 metres.