Te Akau Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has one horse entered for the ten-race Oaks Day programme at Trentham, and three on the nine-race card at Te Rapa, Saturday March 15.

Trentham:
As on Thursday March 13 the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true.

4:46pm R9 h12 Tiara (3 f O'Reilly - Royal Lady) - Rory Hutchings; sustained a big run in her lead up to the Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) when second to Chazelle (High Chaparral) on Feb. 26 in the Benchmark 65 2100 metres at Te Rapa. Since staging a massive effort four starts ago to win over a mile, she has performed admirably against older horses in Rating 65 grade. Although not having contested some of the age group races the others have, her performances reflect an ability to measure up at this level and she has plenty in her pedigree to assist with the mile and half trip. Her grand-dam Royal Tiara (Blanco) won the 1995 Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) and her dam, Royal Lady (Stravinsky), recorded her five wins around 2000 metres.

Te Rapa:
As on Thursday March 13 the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail out 10 metres.

1:00pm R2 9 Sir Darci (3 g Darci Brahma - Dominant) - Samantha Spratt; lost the bob under top weight of 58.5kgs in a good field contesting the $50k Lindsay Mile (3YO, 1600m) on March 1 at Ellerslie, following a stylish win on the same course in the Benchmark 65 1600 metres on Feb. 12. Gearing up to contest the Manawatu Classic (Gr. 3, 2000m) on March 29 at Awapuni, he is entered here for the Benchmark 85 1600 metres. Although out of his rightful grade, he drops in weight to 54kgs and has the ability to prove competitive from barrier seven in a field of nine.

1:35pm R3 5 Wolfwhistle (3 c O'Reilly - Legs) - Alex Forbes; finished second in a recent trial to Open Handicap sprinter Peridot (General Nediym) in preparation to resume following a wind operation and a 161-day break. In his last campaign he was a classy winner over 1300 metres at Taupo, and last time out closed in well from the rear in the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). Contesting the 3YO 1400 metres, he will be given time to find his feet look to be finding the line and as a autumn three-year-old is starting to take the shape of a staying type. His dam, Legs (Pins), was a winner on debut as a three-year-old over 1200 metres before going on to win five of twelve starts including the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) and Kelt Capital Stakes (Gr. 1, 2040m).

2:10pm R4 3 Davey Crockett (4 g Scardee Cat - Avgenia) - Alex Forbes; makes his debut from a wide barrier in the Maiden 1200 metres. He indicated his readiness in a recent trial at Matamata, when despite being trapped wide he never flinched on his task in the straight and recorded a very encouraging win. If able to gain some luck in running, he has shown to have the right attributes to produce a bold performance.