Te Akau Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses entered on the nine-race card at Te Rapa, and one on the ten-race premier programme at Wingatui, Saturday Feb. 1.

Te Rapa:

As on Friday Jan. 31 the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail true.

1:29pm R3 2 Flaming (2 f Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - Matt Cameron; never received the scratching she required to make the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) field last Sunday at Ellerslie, and although drawn the outside barrier of eight for the 2YO 1200 metres her form is reflective of a bold performance. She has displayed attributes of determination and ability when finishing fourth in each of her three starts, including the Murdoch Newell Stakes (Listed, 1100m).

3:47pm R7 4 Chambord (3 g Zabeel - Miss Montjeu) - Matt Cameron; mounted the run of a likely winner before a gap closed and he finished an unlucky sixth on Jan. 18 in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Trentham. At his previous start, on Boxing Day in the Great Northern Guineas (Gr. 2, 1600m) at Ellerslie, he overcame a bad check near the home turn, and again mid-straight, before finding the line for third. Second in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) in November at Riccarton, he has a terrific amount of ability and would be very deserving if able to secure victory from barrier eight in the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m) - one of three in the race for Te Akau.

3:47pm R7 13 King Savinsky (3 g Savabeel - Lynisky) - Rosie Myers; broke through for a timely victory in strong staying fashion on Jan. 6 in the Maiden 1950 metres at Rotorua. At his previous start, he ran home solidly for fourth on Dec. 15 in the Championship Prelude (Listed, 2100m) at Ellerslie, having finished sixth to subsequent Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) winner Rising Romance (Ekraar) prior in the Trevor Eagle Memorial (Listed, 1500m) at Ellerslie. With form behind subsequent 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Atlante (Fastnet Rock) in the Canterbury Stakes (Listed, 1600m) on Oct. 26 at Riccarton, and Great Northern Guineas (Gr. 2, 1600m) winner Puccini (Encosta De Lago) when second to him at Taupo, he certainly warrants inclusion and his form indicates he is up to the task.

3:47pm R7 14 Longbeach (3 c Fastnet Rock - Betwixt) - Craig Grylls; like his stable-mate above he too clocked a timely last start win in order to qualify for this race, when dominant late in the piece on Jan. 13 over a mile at Avondale. His form leading up to his Maiden victory was strong; he has trained on in good fashion since and the step up to 2000 metres appears right up his alley.

Wingatui:

As on Friday Jan. 31 the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail true.

2:52pm R5 11 Dreamer (3 f More than Ready - Make Me Strong) - Jamie Bates; scored a richly deserved win, with some authority, during the NZ Cup Carnival in November at Riccarton, and comes in fresh off 84-days for Dunedin Guineas (Listed, 1400m). Prior to winning, she came from back in the field for fifth equal on Oct. 19 in the Ray Coupland Stakes (Listed, 1400m), won by stable-mate Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) and run in unofficial race record time (1:21.13) at Ashburton. Already stakes placed, having fought hard for second in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m), she has given every indication in a short career including five seconds that she is up to winning a race of this standing.

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