Te Akau Trans Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Friday 7 February at Tauranga, and one at Moonee Valley, Melbourne.?

Tauranga:

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft5, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Friday.

1:37 p.m. R3 3 Cognoscenti (3 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Wiremu Pinn; he quickened to win the Maiden 1400 metres on 20 December at Matamata, and remained in solid form when finishing fourth in the 3YO 1400 metres on 19 January at Pukekohe, each with Pinn aboard. Contesting the $40,000 3YO 1400 metres, he looks a top three prospect in small field. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $1.60.  

2:47 p.m. R5 8 Viva Glam (3 f Savabeel – Style By Design) – Wiremu Pinn; she ran home well for third following an economical trip when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres here on 27 January, also with Pinn aboard. She is out of a stakes’ placed mare that won twice over 1200 metres, and is ideally drawn (4) to perform well in this Maiden 1200m field. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.75. 

3:20 p.m. R6 5 Puketiro (5 m Savabeel – Matakana) – Craig Grylls; she ran the fastest last 600m on day (33.6) for a second-up victory in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 2 January, also with Grylls aboard, and is one of two stablemates contesting the $18,500 Rating 75 1200m event. Unbeaten on this course in two starts over 1200 metres, she will be right in the thick of things at the business end, jumping from the handy barrier (4).  Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.70. 

3:20 p.m. R6 7 Trobriand (4 g Kermadec – Arboreal) – Wiremu Pinn; he came from three back on the inner with a strong finish for third when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 10 January, and likewise contests the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres. A former Group 2 Eclipse Stakes’ winner, he was always very competitive in his age bracket last season. He charged away to win a Rating 75 1200 metres earlier in this season, and is a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.80. 

3:52 p.m. R7 9 Francee (5 m Iffraaj – Calveen) – Wiremu Pinn; she ran sixth in the Rating 75 1500 metres on 12 January at Ellerslie, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. She finished strongly over 1200 metres for second here in November, has raced solidly since in three starts at Ellerslie, and has the ability to feature in the top three here. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.50. 

4:24 p.m. R8 5 Lady Of Court (4 m Savabeel – Are There Any) – Craig Grylls; the first of two for the stable in this race, she received an economical trip when running home strongly in fastest last 600m (34.9) for second in the Rating 60 1400 metres on 22 January at Matamata, again with Grylls aboard, and contests the $40,000 Rating 60 1400 metres. With two second placings from her last two starts, she is ready to pounce and go one better here. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.75. 

4:24 p.m. R8 6 Rue de Rivoli (4 m Tivaci – Boulevard) – Rory Hutchings; stablemate and also raced by the same connections as Lady of Court, she ran the fastest last 600m (32.9) for third when resuming in the Rating 60 1200 metres on 19 January at Pukekohe, and also contests the $40,000 Rating 60 1400 metres. She is a capable mare, possesses a solid form line, and has first four claims breaking from the ace draw.  Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.90. 

Moonee Valley:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 5 metres. No rain forecast.

8:45 p.m. (NZ) ~ 6:45 p.m. (Vic) R2 7 The Victress (3 f Zousain – Liesele) – Jett Stanley (a2); she settled back on the inner, was five lengths off the leaders at the 600m, switched for a rails’ run in straight and finished strongly for second in a trial on 14 January at Matamata. Relocating to our Australian stable in search for sprint races, much like Sans Doute successfully has done, she  resumes in the A$60,000 Benchmark 64 1000 metres. She enjoys weight relief to 56.5kg, recorded both her career wins fresh-up over 1000 metres, and while she is having her first start in Australia, she definitely has the ability to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.80.  

Main picture - The Victress