Te Akau North South Super Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Saturday 11 January at Trentham and Kumara. 

Trentham:

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. Showers forecast Saturday. 

1:16 p.m. R2 1 Fierce Flight (6 g Flying Artie – First Bloom) – Ngakau Hailey (a2); he found Heavy10 conditions too testing in the Rating 82 2200 metres on 26 December at Wingatui, and contests the $65,000 Rating 75 2200 metres. He brings a very good course/distance record to this contest, winning over 2200 metres and having been runner-up in the Listed St Leger (2600m), Group 3 Manawatu Cup (2300m), and Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m). Weight relief with the apprentice claim beings him to still tough 60.5kg but he does find an opportunity to bounce back on improved footing. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.00.

2:29 p.m. R4 1 Carsolio (2 c Bivouac – Whitehaven) – Luke Currie; he travelled on speed and sustained a strong gallop to win a trial on 17 December at Pukekohe. He then scored impressively in a further trial on 29 October at Waipa, before tying up late on Heavy10 when debuting over 1000 metres on 10 November at Tauherenikau. By three-time Group winner and Champion Male Sprinter in Australia Bivouac (Exceed And Excel), he is from the family of Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner Vancouver (Medaglia d’Oro), and rates a top three chance from barrier one in the $100,000 Listed Star Group Wellesley Stakes over 1100m. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.65.

3:41 p.m. R6 1 Campionessa (7 m Contributer – Bella Carolina) – Luke Currie; she raced well for second in the Group 2 Cal Izusu Stakes (1600m) on 14 December at Te Rapa, and was the same again for fifth in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) on 26 December at Ellerslie. She meets a somewhat softer field in the $150,000 Group 3 Life Direct Trentham Stakes (2100m), is well weighted (56kg) for a proven Group race winner, and presents as a realistic top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.65.

4:51 p.m. R8 15 Qali Al Farrasha (4 m Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Wiremu Pinn; she produced a huge run for second in the Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m) on 23 November at Pukekohe, also with Pinn aboard, and worked home well over a sprint trip in Group and Listed trial on 20 December at Matamata. Contesting the $500,000 Group 1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile, she carries minimum weight (53kg), was placed in Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at her only previous course attempt, and possesses the ability to prove competitive - in a race won previously by Champion 2YO Maroofity (pictured as a 4YO). Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.90.

Kumara:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Friday/Saturday.

1:32 p.m. R3 1 Millefiori (6 m Iffraaj – Miss Bluebell) – Donovan Cooper (a2); she got back and did well for sixth on conditions she found too testing (Heavy10) in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 26 December at Wingatui. Contesting the $25,000 Rating 80 1150 metres, she has weight relief to 58.5kg, and is a well performed winner of seven races from 1100m – 1400m. She is a stakes' placed mare and will be competitive if she is appreciative of the course at her first attempt. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.50. 

5:02 p.m. R9 7 Elegant Lady (5 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Terry Moseley; she raced on the speed and fought well for sixth on downgraded Soft7 footing in the Open Handicap 1600 metres on 26 December at Otaki. Contesting the $40,000 Vernon & Vazey Kumara Gold Nuggets (Open Handicap, 1810 metres), she recorded a hat-trick of wins before being stakes' placed in the both the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) and Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) last season, and has the talent to prove competitive and make her presence felt in solid field. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.