Te Akau Super Saturday Preview

Date: 21 Jan 2022

Te Akau Super Saturday Preview

 

Te Akau Racing 14 horses entered on Saturday 22 January: Ellerslie and Gore.

 

Ellerslie (Karaka Million twilight meeting):

Weather: overcast, track: Dead5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

5:11 p.m. R2 1 Amarelinha  (4 m Savabeel - Hopscotch) - Opie Bosson; 2020/21 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, she spelled following the Empire Rose Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 30 October at Flemington. She has a great course record: winner of the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) and Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m), she was also second in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) this day last year. She had more to offer when trialling on 12 January at Matamata, she acts well fresh, and has drawn the ace in the $150,000 Westbury Classic (Gr. 2, 1400m). Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.35.

5.51 p.m. R3 1 Sword of State (3 c Snitzel - In the Vanguard) - Opie Bosson; ended his two-year-old campaign racing clear to win the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) in March at Ellerslie, was named Champion Two-Year-Old, and spelled following the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 30 October at Flemington. Held in a pocket, he was untested when trialling on 12 January at Matamata, he acts fresh, and has drawn the ace in the $110,000 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) - the first of three in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.35.

5.51 p.m. R3 3 Imperatriz  (3 f I Am Invincible - Berimbau) - Michael McNab; finished a close fourth to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 13 November at Riccarton - a Te Akau first four - and quickened home when trialling on 12 January at Matamata. Winner of four from six, she performs well fresh and rates a top three prospect in the $110,000 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m). Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.40.

5.51 p.m. R3 4 Mohawk Brave (3 g Extreme Choice - Ben's Duchess) - Johnathan Parkes; flattened out with a good turn of foot for a debut victory in a Maiden 3YO 1000 metres on 28 October at Te Aroha, and delivered a whirlwind finish winning a Rating 65 1200 metres on Boxing Day at Awapuni. Up in class for the $110,000 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m), he has drawn wide (10) but look for him getting home. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.40.

6:29 p.m. R4 1 Fellini  (2 g Belardo - Silke Top) - Sam Weatherley; easily won after leading in a Maiden 2YO 1000 metres on 20 December at Pukekohe, and let down strongly to win a 2YO 1200 metres here on 9 January. Hard to fault, he rates a top four chance in the $1m Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), a race Te Akau has won for the past five years - Fellini is the first of four in the event for the tangerine team. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

6:29 p.m. R4 5 Lord Cosmos  (2 g Pierro - Cosmic Powers) - Johnathan Parkes; powered home stylishly to win a Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on 22 December at New Plymouth, following a nice debut second from a wide gate. Drawn wide again (13) in $1m Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), look for him getting home strongly in the hands of last year's winning rider. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.00.

6:29 p.m. R4 6 Dynastic  (2 c Almanzor - Meir) - Opie Bosson; ran home powerfully to win at the trials on 13 December at Rotorua, and raced three wide near the pace when second on debut to stable-mate Grace ‘N' Grey (Spirit of Boom) in a 2YO 1100 metres here on Boxing Day. Handily drawn in the $1m Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), he rates a top four prospect with blinkers on and the class rider aboard. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.50.

6:29 p.m. R4 15 Time Flies  (2 g Time Test - Rorippa) - Matthew Cameron; tried hard when a close second to Pacific Dragon (Charm Spirit) on debut in a Maiden 2YO 1000 metres on 20 December at Pukekohe, and was third to stable-mate Fellini (above) in 2YO 1200 metres here on 9 January. He is capable, and will be competitive if further improved with blinkers going on in $1m Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

On the Bubbles (below) led home Te Akau first four in Karaka Million 2YO last year, giving stable fifth consecutive win, following: Melody Belle (Commands), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Probabeel (Savabeel), and Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel).

7:11 p.m. R5 2 Markus Aurelius (5 g Ghibellines - Evancho) - Opie Bosson; capped good form winning the Coupland's Bakeries Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) during Cup Week at Riccarton, and lifted well for a close second at the trials on 12 January at Matamata. Resuming in the $110,000 Brighthill Farm Eminent First Yearlings Concorde Handicap (Gr. 3, 1200m), he is likely to get back from barrier 11 but look for him running home strongly - first of a Te Akau trio in this race. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.20.

7:11 p.m. R5 5 Festivity  (5 m I Am Invincible - Mabsam) - Kozzi Asano; challenged bravely to beat stable-mate Vamos Bebe (I Am Invincible) in Hallmark Stud Handicap (Listed, 1200m) here on Boxing Day, ran home solidly at the trials on 12 January at Matamata, and also contests the $110,000 Brighthill Farm Eminent First Yearlings Concorde Handicap (Gr. 3, 1200m). The winner of six from 12, he is ideally drawn (3), and has first four claims. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.50.

7:11 p.m. R5 10 Romantic Lady  (5 m Power - Romantic Time) - Sam Weatherley; produced a terrific run for second in the Levin Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on 25 November at Otaki, and was very strong from second last behind stable-mate Festivity (above) in the Hallmark Stud Handicap (Listed, 1200m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie. She worked well in unison with stable-mate Sophisticardo (below) during an exhibition gallop on 12 January at Matamata. Her best is competitive but she requires luck from an awkward draw (8) in the $110,000 Brighthill Fa

rm Eminent First Yearlings Concorde Handicap (Gr. 3, 1200m). Fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.80.

7:48 p.m. R6 1 On the Bubbles  (3 g Brazen Beau - More Bubbles) - Opie Bosson; completed a hat-trick in the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), giving Te Akau its fifth consecutive juvenile crown, and ended his two-year-old season winning the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), the fourth in a row for Te Akau. He was eye-catching finishing second in a 3YO 1200 metres on 11 December at Te Rapa, before winning the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m) here on Boxing Day. Perhaps below expectations when trialling on 12 January at Matamata, he is reportedly back on song and warrants favouritism in the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m). Fixed odds: $1.60 & $1.15.

7:48 p.m. R6 3 Sophisticardo  (3 g Burgundy - Glamorous Girl) - Johnathan Parkes; was solid finishing fourth to stable-mate On the Bubbles (above) in the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) last season, and ran the fastest 600m (33.8) closing for third in 3YO 1200 metres on 11 December at Te Rapa. He sprinted home from the rear for fourth to On the Bubbles in the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, but he requires luck from wide draw (17) in the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m). Fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.80.

 

Gore:

Weather: overcast, track: Slow7, rail: true. No rain forecast.

3:43 p.m. R7 15 Irish Red  (3 f Burgundy - Niamh Elizabeth) - Rohan Mudhoo; finished third in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m), won easily over 1200 metres, and was freshened following the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) in November at Riccarton - a Te Akau first four. Resuming in the 2YO & 3YO 1200 metres on Boxing Day at Wingatui, she worked forward from a wide draw (13) and peaked to finish sixth in a race won by race rival Ruby's Lad (Ghibellines). She receives a better draw (7) in $60,000 Liquorland Gore Guineas (Listed, 1335m). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70.

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