Te Akau Woodville Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has two horses racing on Thursday 20 April at Woodville.

As on race morning the conditions were: overcast and Heavy10, rail true. No rain forecast.

1.03 p.m. R2 1 Cousteau (2 c Exceed and Excel - Maritime) - Jonathan Riddell; led at a good clip before being claimed near the line by Joyfilly (Highly Recommended) and stable-mate Swing Note (Encosta De Lago) in the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 15 March at Matamata. Joyfilly was runner-up to the Autridge/Richards trained Gold Fever (Savabeel) at her previous start in the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) and subsequently finished third to Te Akau winner Melody Belle (Commands) in the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), so the form is strong. A second prior, at Te Rapa, to subsequent winner Qiji Phoenix (Not A Single Doubt) further enhances the strength of his performances and he has handled wet ground well in training.

1.38 p.m. R3 12 Brer (8 g China Cat - La Fox) - Daniel Miller; continued his jumping preparations with another run on the flat, in the Jumpers High-Weight 2040 metres on 30 March at Wanganui, having resuming over a mile at Avondale, and now contests the Jumpers High-Weight 2200 metres. Second in both the $50,000 Waikato Steeplechase (4000m) and $50,000 Hawkes Bay Steeplechase (4800m) last season, and third in the $50,000 McGregor Grant Steeplechase (4150m), getting over fences and increased distance should prove more to his liking.