Te Akau Wingatui Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Thursday 13 September at Wingatui.

As on race morning the conditions were: fine and Slow8, rail true. Some showers forecast race day.

12.13 p.m. R1 2 Swing Note (4 m Encosta De Lago - Andallthatjazz) - Nik Bakar (a4); resumed with a four length win in the Rating 72 1400 metres a fortnight ago at Ashburton, with Bakar aboard, and remains in the same grade for the $11,000 Rating 72 1600 metres. Drawn barrier three, she has a 2.5kg weight increase to carry 54kgs. Third in the Zacinto Stakes (Listed, 1600m) and notable fifth in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), she will be all the rage to win again.

1.58 p.m. R4 7 Summer Monsoon (4 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Shafiq Rusof; followed a second at the trials to dual Group Two winner Ocean Emperor (Zabeel) when scoring fresh-up by 4 ¼ lengths in the Rating 65 1250 metres a fortnight ago at Ashburton, with Shafiq aboard. Up in grade to contest the $11,000 Rating 72 1200 metres, he was stakes' placed in the Matamata Slipper (Listed, 1200m) and although meeting a stronger field should remain very competitive.

2.33 p.m. R5 10 Our Flying Ace (3 g Darci Brahma - Aterballetto) - Shafiq Rusof; recorded a nice trial win on 28 August at Te Teko, and debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. From the classy Pencarrow Stud family of Group Two & Three winner Rasa Lila (Darci Brahma) and Group Three winner Posavina (Tiger Hill), he should stretch over more distance but also has speed to overcome the outside barrier (11) and race well.

4.18 p.m. R1 1 Bak Da Master (4 g Mastercraftsman - Bak Da Princess) - Shafiq Rusof; rounded out a hat-trick of wins for trainer Jamie Richards at Ashburton - following Swing Note and Summer Monsoon - with a tidy fresh-up victory in the Maiden 1600 metres. Consistent through his first campaign: two seconds and two thirds from four starts up to 2100 metres, Shafiq retains the ride and the combination should prove tough again in the $10,000 Rating 65 1600 metres.