Te Akau Super Easter Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 16 horses entered on Easter Saturday (3 April): Ellerslie, Awapuni, and Rosehill Gardens (Sydney).

Ellerslie:

Weather: fine, track: Slow7, rail: out 9.5 metres. No rain forecast.

3.02 p.m. R5 5 Phantom Witness (4 g Star Witness - Fandom) - Troy Harris; winner of two from five and never further back than fourth, he finished strongly for fourth in the second of two preparatory trials on 16 March at Cambridge. A winner on debut and naturally athletic, he rates a top three chance fresh-up from barrier three in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

3.02 p.m. R5 13 Rhapsody in Blue  (4 m Medaglia d'Oro - Kablues) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); came between runners from last with a notable effort for sixth when resuming in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres on 20 March at Tauranga, with Kamaruddin aboard, and contests the corresponding event. Weight relief to 51.5kg assists her prospects in a solid field. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.80.

3.37 p.m. R6 6 Mai Tai (4 m Atlante - Tropical Punch)- Troy Harris; was an unlucky fifth in the Rating 74 1200 metres here on Derby Day (7 March), and since finished strongly for fourth at the trials on 23 March at Cambridge. The winner of three from eight, including the Stella Artois Championship Final (Special Conditions, 1500m) here on Boxing Day, she rates a top three chance in the $27,500 Rating 74 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $2.15 & $1.25.

4.13 p.m. R7 5 Markus Aurelius (4 g Ghibellines - Evancho) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); made it two from two this time in, with Kamaruddin aboard, and completed a hat-trick with an easy victory here in the Rating 74 1600 metres on Derby Day (7 March). Rising in class for the $32,500 Open 1500 metres, but weight relief to 54kg and ability to measure up. Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.30.

4.53 p.m. R8 5 Shebringsmerubies  (5 m Sebring - Run Away Ruby) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); ran the fastest last 600m (35.7) in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 21 February at Hastings, and dominant winning the Rating 65 1600 metres on 17 March at Matamata, with Kamaruddin aboard. Remaining in the same grade for the $22,500 Rating 65 2100 metres, carrying 54.5kg, she requires luck from the draw (14), but placed in her only attempt at the distance. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.70.

Awapuni:

Weather: fine, track: Slow8, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Friday, no rain race day.

12.52 p.m. R2 3 Leaderboard  (6 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Opie Bosson; resumed with a good third in the Rating 74 1600 metres on 19 February at Wanganui, and solid finishing close second in the Rating 74 1550 metres here on 6 March. He is ideally drawn (3) to race well in the $40,000 Rating 74 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15.

1.27 p.m. R3 1 Navalha (3 g Sebring - Afiado) - Opie Bosson; made it two from two over 1200 metres with a soft win in January at Matamata, and found the line very well under his own steam for fourth when trialling on 23 March at Cambridge. He has shown to act fresh and rates a top three chance in the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.00.

1.27 p.m. R3 6 Campionessa  (3 f Contributer - Bella Contributer) - Danielle Johnson; made it two from two with a three-length victory over 1400 metres in December at Matamata, and never off the bridle when cruising into second at the trials on 23 March at Cambridge. Resuming from barrier one in the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres, she rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.55.

2.02 p.m. R4 14 Get Hitched (4 m Lonhro - Wedding) - Danielle Johnson; won the Rating 65 1215 metres by nearly four lengths on 28 December at Rotorua, and denied room finishing fifth in the Rating 74 1300 metres here on 12 February. She ran home strongly for third when trialling on 16 March at Cambridge, and rates a top three chance with luck from barrier (12) in the $40,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.85.

3.12 p.m. R6 5 Seajetz  (3 g Iffraaj - Bellazeel) - Danielle Johnson; recorded two wins to 1600 metres, from four starts, before being slowly away in the Rating 74 1600 metres on 20 March at Tauranga. Bred to get the trip, he receives a chance to bounce back in the $70,000 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (Gr. 3, 2000m). Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

3.47 p.m. R7 1 On the Bubbles  (2 g Brazen Beau - More Bubbles) - Johnathan Parkes; became the fifth consecutive Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner for Te Akau on 23 January at Ellerslie, recording a hat-trick of wins in the process, and since finished second to stable-mate Sword of State (Snitzel) in both the Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) and Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m). A tough course winner on debut, he rates a top three chance despite drawing wide (13) in the $225,000 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m). Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.35.

3.47 p.m. R7 4 I Wish I Win (2 g Savabeel - Make A Wish) - Opie Bosson; became the 18^thtwo-year-old winner this season for trainer Jamie Richards with an easy debut victory over 1200 metres here on 6 March, and won stylishly after circling widest at the trials on 23 March at Cambridge. He rates a top three chance from barrier five in the $225,000 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m). Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.40.

Jamie Richards has trained the previous three Sires' Produce Stakes winners.

5.05 p.m. R9 4 Prise De Fer  (5 g Savabeel - Foiled) - Opie Bosson; returned to winning form under 61.5kg in the Open 1500 metres on Derby Day (7 March) at Ellerslie, and did well for close fifth after being slowly away in the Japan Trophy (Gr. 2, 1600m) last Saturday at Tauranga. A Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) and Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 1800m) winner, he rates a top three chance from barrier one in the $100,000 City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2000m). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15.

5.05 p.m. R9 14 Savy Yong Blonk  (5 m Savabeel - Ampin) - Danielle Johnson; freshened after winning the City of Auckland Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m) on 1 January, she resumed with a top run for second in the Royal Descent Stakes (1600m) on Auckland Cup Day (13 March). Ideally drawn (2) in the $100,000 City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2000m), she rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.95.

5.45 p.m. R10 3 Radegast (4 g Savabeel - Marveen) - Opie Bosson; finished produced another notable effort finishing fourth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 25 February at Pukekohe, and second to stable-mate Shebringsmerubies (above) in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 17 March at Matamata. He brings the right form to rate a top three chance in the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25.

Rosehill:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 6 metres. No rain forecast.

6.35 p.m. (NZ time) R7 11 Melody Belle  (6 m Commands - Meleka Belle) - James McDonald; wound up an enormous finish to win the Bonecrusher NZ Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) on Auckland Cup Day (13 March), superseding Sunline (Desert Sun) with her 14^thGroup One win. The dual Horse of the Year has drawn wide (12) in the $500,000 Kia Tancred Stakes (Gr. 1, 2400m), but has a class rider aboard and arrives in the right shape to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15.