Te Akau Weekend Preview - North, South & Sandown

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses racing at three venues on Saturday 12 November .

Tauranga:

As on Friday 11 November the conditions were: cloudy and Dead4, rail out 1.5 metres. 18mls rain forecast race day morning.

1.00 p.m. R2 11 Tiffany's Time (3 f Alamosa - Tinsel Time) - Michael McNab; drew clear to win the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres, as race favourite, on Dead6 at Avondale, and steps up in class for the $20,000 3YO 1400 metres. Notable in all four starts, she warrants her place and may handle rain-affected going better than some of her rivals in a race where Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge) will be the short order.

3.24 p.m. R6 7 Abidewithme (7 m Redoute's Choice - Crimson) - Michael McNab; could hardly have produced a more pleasing fresh up third in the $30,000 Open 1400 metres on October 22 at Ellerslie, indicating that she still has a zest for racing. She encounters a small but select field in the $100,000 Tauranga Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m), drawn six of nine, and suited by the weight for age scale. Able to handle some give, footing shy of slow would be preferable. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.90.

Riccarton:

As on Friday 11 November the conditions were: overcast and Good3, rail true. 15mls rain forecast Friday, 10mls race day morning.

1.55 p.m. R5 3 Seirios (2 c Pierro - Irish Lights) - Leith Innes; was denied the chance of finishing closer when held up here on debut in the $20,000 2YO 800 metres, after finishing second in both preparatory trials: over 600  metres on heavy going at Te Teko, then 800 metres on slow ground at Avondale. Drawn barrier seven of nine in a sharp field for the $50,000 Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m), he has the addition of visor blinkers and currently equal fourth favourite: $8.50 & $2.35 fixed. 

4.21 p.m. R9 16 Imperium (5 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal) - Mark Du Plessis; ran a really good race for third here last Saturday in the $75,000 Metropolitan Handicap (Listed, 2500m) to ensure a start in the $250,000 New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m). A son of 2001 Melbourne Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) winner Ethereal (Rhythm), he has always appeared an ideal type for the two mile journey, is weighted on the minimum (53kgs) and brings the right form to give a good account of himself. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.30, current third favourite.

Sandown (Ladbrokes Park Hillside), Melbourne:

As on Friday 11 November the conditions were: showery and Good3, rail true. 17mls rain forecast Saturday.

5.55 p.m. (NZT 7.55 p.m.) R10 12 Shillelagh (5 m Savabeel - Trocair) - Damien Oliver; produced an outstanding performance for second, when clearly last early, in the $215,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m), for mares, on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington, and now contests the $161,000 Summoned Stakes (Gr. 3, 1500m) also for mares. Checked out of contention prior in the $215,000 Schwepps Tristarc Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m), she had previously 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, with Oliver aboard, and despite drawing wide (15) must be afforded a strong chance. Fixed odds: $3.90 favourite.

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