Te Akau Trans Tasman Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Wednesday 10 June at Riccarton (poly-track), New Zealand and one horse entered at Sale, Victoria.

Riccarton: 

Weather: fine, track: poly-track, rail: true. 

3:00 p.m. R6 3 Balance Of Power (5 g Almanzor – Respin) – Courtney Barnes; he was unable to quicken after making an early move to lead in the Rating 75 1800 metres on 2 May at Riccarton, and contests the $17,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. He found the line nicely when resuming the start prior at Ellerslie, has had time to settle in to Te Akau stables at Riccarton, but has been frustrated by two raceday attendances only to see the meetings abandoned. He’s recorded four wins to 2000 metres, and is capable of racing well if appreciative of the poly-track at his first attempt on the surface. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $1.90. 

3:00 p.m. R6 4 Purple Prose (4 g Embellish – Lady Masako) – Triston Moodley (a1); he was perfectly ridden to win the Rating 65 1600 metres on 14 May and then raced well for third in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 27 May, both here on poly-track. One of two Te Akau home-bred contesting the Rating 75 1600 metres, he is a triple course/distance winner and, in his current form, he has to be a serious threat from barrier one in this field. $3.10 & $1.35. 

3:00 p.m. R6 7 Queen Of Naples (4 m Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time) – Amber Ridell (a1); she was unable to quicken out of midfield in the Rating 75 1600 metres here (poly-track) on 27 May, and likewise contests the Rating 75 1600 metres. She won a Pearl Series race over 1400 metres here three starts ago, all three of her wins have come on the poly-track at Riccarton, including over 1600 metres, and she too has to be a realistic chance of line honours. Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.45.

Sale:

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy8, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

4:30 p.m. (NZ) - 2:30 p.m. (Vic) R5 10 Dismantle (4 m Spirit Of Boom – Pimlico Girl) – Craig Williams; she found the line strongly from last to finish fifth in a jump out on 1 June at Cranbourne, also with Williams aboard, and is having her first start for Te Akau trainer Mark Walker in the A$35,000 0 – 66 Handicap 1000 metres. She brings a career record of a win and two seconds to 1100 metres from five starts, has shown an ability to race well when fresh, and appears capable of a bold first-up effort if appreciative of the heavy footing. NZ TAB fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.80.

Main picture - Purple Prose winning