Te Akau North South Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Saturday 20 June: Ellerslie and Riccarton, New Zealand.

Ellerslie: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 8 metres. No rain forecast. 

12:02 p.m. R1 3 Pokuru Gold (5 g Darci Brahma – Pokuru Nugget) – Wiremu Pinn; he positioned handily but found the Heavy10 footing too testing in the Open Handicap 1150 metres on 4 June at Te Aroha, and contests the $70,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres. He closed strongly for third and second, respectively, here in April and May. He seems to have struck up a good relationship with the track, is ideally drawn (5), and receives opportunity to bounce back on better ground. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.70.

Riccarton: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 6 metres to 1000m, then out 8 metres to winning post. Showers forecast Saturday afternoon.

12:18 p.m. R2 6 Best Rose (3 f Maurice – Queen’s Legacy) – Floor Moerman (a2); she finished sixth after trailing in the Rating 65 1200 metres here on 2 May, and contests the $35,000 Rating 65 1000 metres. She brings a solid course/distance record, including a win at Riccarton, has the plus of weight relief to 55kg, and possesses the ability to deliver a top three result despite the slightly tricky gate (8). Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.85.

1:28 p.m. R4 7 Hooray For Harry (4 g Harry Angel – Here We Come) – Triston Moodley (a1); he raced well for a very close second in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 22 May at Wingatui, also with Moodley in the saddle, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. A dual course/distance winner over 1200 metres, and on both soft and heavy ground, meets a strong field but has the advantage of a positive gate (4) to race well again. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.05.

3:15 p.m. R7 3 Balance Of Power (5 g Almanzor – Respin) – Triston Moodley (a1); he ran the fastest last 600m (33.9) when flying home from last in the Rating 75 1600 metres here (poly-track) on 10 June, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. With a record of four wins to 2000 metres, including three on soft ground, he has had time to settle in to Te Akau stables at Riccarton, despite travelling to two subsequently abandoned meetings.  He is more than capable of racing well with  a good dose of luck from his wide draw (10). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.

Main picture - Hooray For Harry winning at Riccarton