Te Akau Trans Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Friday 30 October at Ashburton in New Zealand, and four horses entered at Kilmore and Pakenham (Victoria). 

UPDATE - ASHBURTON HAS BEEN ABANDONED

Ashburton: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 3 metres. Showers forecast.

1:06 p.m. R3 1 Stonybreck (7 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he remained back after steadying from his outside barrier (14) in the Open Handicap 1600 metres here on 10 October, also with Hayley aboard, and contests the $25,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. He’s been a great warrior with nine wins to 1600 metres - while he does carry the top weight (60kg), the blinkers are on and we expect to see improvement from barrier one. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.55.

2:12 p.m. R5 13 Callidonta (3 f North Pacific – Linden) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she worked forward three-wide among a group in behind the leaders, ranged up entering the home straight and maintained a solid effort for fourth in a trial on 6 October at Matamata, likewise with Hayley in the saddle. Resuming in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres in her first start in the south, she has settled in well, and is a happy horse. She hails from a sprint family, and this is a good opportunity to for her to commence her new Spring campaign with a solid showing. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

2:47 p.m. R6 1 Marokopa Falls (4 m Hellbent – Beside You) – Triston Moodley (a); she finished strongly for second in Rating 65 1200 metres on 12 September at Riccarton, and ran the fastest last 600m (34.1) for third after getting back from a wide draw (10) in the corresponding event on 4 October at Timaru. The first of two stable mares contesting the $18,500 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses), she has been twice stakes’ placed, comes into the race in good order and warrants her favouritism from barrier four. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.60.

2:47 p.m. R6 6 Novelette (4 m Cool Aza Beel – Fiction) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she finished solidly in midfield without threatening when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres here on 18 October, and likewise contests the Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses). She unleashed a powerful finish for a course/distance win in March, has continued to race solidly, and rates a top four chance with a decent trip from barrier eight. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.35.

4:41 p.m. R9 3 Bellish Boy (4 g Embellish – Stylish Achiever) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he easily (4.5 lengths) won the Maiden 1400 metres here on 10 October, with Hayley aboard, and is one of two stablemates lining up in the $18,500 Rating 65 1400 metres. He raced competitively in his first campaign, has struck winning form early this time in, and is ideally drawn (4) to continue on his merry in-form way. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.70. 

4:41 p.m. R9 5 Arctic Jewel (4 m Frosted – Miss Gem) – Triston Moodley (a); the second runner in the Rating 65 1400m, she ran home solidly for fifth in a Rating 65 1200 metres last time out on 18 October on this track. She has won twice to 1200 metres and raced consistently well last season,  she appears ready to step up at her third run, and presents as a top three chance but will require luck from her wide draw (13). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.  

Kilmore:

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 3 metres 400m – 1600m, remainder out 5 metres. No rain forecast.

5:30 p.m. (NZ) - 3:30 p.m. (Vic) R4 6 Golden Pulse (3 c Tivaci – Gold Fever) – Thomas Stockdale; he has been patiently handled and given time (30 days) since improving from back in the field for sixth in the Benchmark 56 1000 metres on 29 September at Tatura, and contests the A$22,000 Benchmark 56 1212 metres. A debut winning two-year-old, he is the half-brother to Te Akau purchased and trained Champion Two-Year-Old La Dorada (Super Seth), and is capable of further improvement jumping from the handy barrier five. 

6:30 p.m. (NZ) - 4:30 p.m. (Vic) R6 8 Precambrian (4 g So You Think – Splendido) – Thomas Stockdale; he won a Maiden 2112 metres on 19 September at Echuca, before remaining rearward in the Benchmark 56 2200 metres on 12 October at Bairnsdale. He lines up in the $27,000 Benchmark 62 2012 metres, and is likely get back from his awkward gate (10) but nevertheless, this is a good opportunity for him to bounce back with an improved showing. 

Pakenham:

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

8:15 p.m. (NZ) - 6:15 p.m. R2 11 Shemesh (3 f The Autumn Sun – Star Salute) – Blake Shinn; she kept closing from last with a strong finish for second in a  jump out on 19 October at Cranbourne, with Blake in the saddle on that occasion too, and debuts in the A$45,000 Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres. By Champion 3YO Colt in Australia, The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice), her dam Star Salute (General Nediym) recorded three wins to 1200 metres, and this lass is well placed to deliver a solid first-up effort from barrier five. NZ TAB fixed odds: $1.80 & $1.15.

10:15 p.m. (NZ) - 8:15 p.m. (Vic) R4 2 Berardo (3 g Hanseatic – Belzella) – Blake Shinn; he stretched out nicely after leading to win a trial on 1 October at Caulfield, and debuts in the A$45,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. His young sire Hanseatic (Street Boss) is doing a good job at stud, while his dam Belzella (Bel Esprit) won four times to 1200 metres and was Group Three placed over 1000 metres,. He is the half brother to Te Akau trained dual winner Astari (Starspangledbanner), and while he certainly looked strong winning a trial, he too will need a lot to go his way from the wide draw (14) - he has the right man in the saddle to negate that. NZ TAB fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.40. 

Main picture - Stonybreck winning