Te Akau Trans Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Friday 25 September at Te Rapa., Hamilton, New Zealand, and one horse entered at Cranbourne, Victoria.

Te Rapa: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 8 metres. No rain forecast. 

12:35 p.m. R2 9 Passion ‘N’ Pride (4 m Darci Brahma – Sweet Hunter) – Cooper Stumbles (a4); she went forward from a wider gate, angled widest on straightening, and finished strongly to win a trial on 8 September at Rotorua, with the Te Akau apprentice also aboard. Resuming in the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres, she closed solidly for second over 1600 metres among three starts last season, has the benefit of weight relief to 52.5kg, and shapes to race well first-up from barrier one. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.80.

1:44 p.m. R4 11 Uptown (4 m Savabeel – Urban) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she found the line solidly for third when resuming in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 2 September at Ruakaka, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. She broke through at her third start when winning over 1600 metres, the blinkers are on, and she definitely has first four claims. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05.

2:54 p.m. R6 1 With A Vengeance (3 g Exceed and Excel – Eleusa) – Craig Grylls; he was too slick off the front when resuming with a staunch victory in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 5 September at Ellerslie, also with last season’s champion jockey Craig in the saddle, and contests the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres. He is fashioning a good record, and does come in as the highest rated in the field. He has previously trialled well on the course, and is a top three chance from the four barrier. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.35.   

4:09 p.m. R8 5 What You Wish For (6 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Wiremu Pinn; he settled back third last and made up plenty of ground when closing strongly for fourth in a trial here on 13 September, likewise with Wiremu engaged. The first of two stable starters resuming in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1500 metres, he is a stakes’ winner who has also Group placed, likes the course, races well when fresh, and is a genuine top four prospect. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.20.

4:09 p.m. R8 11 Bright Stripes (6 g Starspangledbanner – Dutch Rose) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he recorded a strong fresh-up victory over 1400 metres here in May, also with Hayley (who knows him well) aboard, when having first start in New Zealand, and then ran on with more to offer in a trial on 15 September at Ellerslie. He too comes in fresh to the Open Handicap 1500 metres, has shown in the past he can race well when in that state, and is ideally drawn (2) to make an impact early in his new campaign. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.20.

4:44 p.m. R9 1 Origin Of Love (4 m Snitzel – Re Edit) – Michael McNab; the first of three stable runners engaged in the last race on the programme, she finished sixth when resuming in the Rating 75 1300 metres on 5 September at Ellerslie, also with Michael in the saddle, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. She won the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) and Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1600m), and placed in Group races to 2000 metres last season. She was recently awarded the title of South Island Champion Three-Year-Old in the south’s annual awards, and while she is assigned the top weight (59kg), her ability should ensure she gives a good showing from barrier one. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.95.

4:44 p.m. R9 2 Zantabulous (7 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Wiremu Pinn; the second starter for the stable lining up in the Rating 75 1400m, she settled fourth, swept up to lead cat the 400m, and drew out with a strong gallop to comfortably win a trial on 8 September at Rotorua. Coming in fresh today, she raced very well during her last campaign, and indicated her readiness to resume in her trial,. She carries equal top weight (59kg) with her stablemate but should be respected from barrier five. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50. 

4:44 p.m. R9 13 Bolli Belle (4 m Shamus Award – Fille Champagne) – Hayley Hassman (a1); the last of the tangerine trio, she ran on near the rail after getting back when resuming in the Rating 75 1150 metres on 3 September at Te Aroha. She won her first two starts last season to 1400 metres, carries the minimum weight (53.5kg), and is perfectly drawn (4) to prove more competitive. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.60. 

Cranbourne:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

10:45 p.m. (NZ) - 8:45 p.m. (Vic) R7 3 Stage ‘n’ Screen (5 m Ace High – Inthespotlight) – Logan Bates (a1.5); she won the Benchmark 78 Mares 1410 metres on 1 August at Flemington, and was swamped only late after racing handily in the Benchmark 78 Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 29 August at Caulfield. Contesting the A$60,000 Benchmark 70 1400 metres, she is a dual winner over 1400 metres, has put together a good record on her home course, but carries big weight 60.5kg and requires a good dose of luck from her nasty gate (14).  Fixed odds: $18.00 & $3.90.

Main picture - Zantabulous coming back to scale