Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 10 horses entered at Ellerslie and Otaki in New Zealand on Saturday 17 October, and eight horses entered in Victoria at Caulfield (Melbourne), Avoca (Victoria), and Bendigo (Victoria).

Ellerslie: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft6, rail: out 5.5 metres. No rain forecast. 

11:45 a.m. R1 3 Centurial (4 g Savabeel – Purcentage) – Michael McNab; he quickened powerfully after being patiently ridden to win when resuming in the Maiden 970 metres on 30 September at Cambridge (poly-track), also with Michael McNab aboard. Contesting the $55,000 Rating 65 1100 metres, he meets a stronger field as he steps up in grade, but he started his new campaign in good style and rates a top three chance from the handy barrier two. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.60.

1:28 p.m. R4 7 Born To Be Royal (4 m King’s Legacy – Fatal Rendezvous) – Craig Grylls; she came off the trail and showed plenty of resolve to win the Rating 65 2000 metres on 3 October at Matamata, also with last season’s champion jockey Craig Grylls aboard. Contesting the $55,000 Rating 75 2100 metres, she placed here in the Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m), and is ideally drawn (3) to put herself right in this contest. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.70. 

3:49 p.m. R8 4 Talisker (6 g Embellish – Glenkinchie) – Michael McNab; he began well before settling midfield and then sustained a solid gallop in a trial on 13 September at Te Rapa. One of two stablemates resuming in the $65,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres, he won a similar event fresh-up in April, before running second in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m). He has raced well on course in the past, and from barrier one has the ability to deliver a good result. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $2.00. 

3:49 p.m. R8 6 El Viento (6 g El Roca – Mandeville) – Craig Grylls; he received an economical trip and remained held together while doing work nicely over a sprint distance in a trial on 6 October at Matamata. He too is fresh up in to the Open Handicap 1400 metres, and ended his previous campaign finishing third here over 1600 metres. He has some tricks up his sleeve that the team has worked diligently on and if he breaks on terms, he certainly possesses the ability to commence his new prep. with a solid performance from barrier five. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70.

4:24 p.m. R9 5 Asturia (3 f Almanzor – Kay’s Legacy) – Michael McNab; she unwound with a big finish from back in the field for a debut victory in the 3YO 1400 metres here on 5 September, and against more experienced horses too.  Next start, she was a close second in the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) on 26 September at Hastings, both starts with Michael aboard. Contesting the $175,000 Group 2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), she meets good and arguably more experienced field, but she brings the right form to be a realistic top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.05.

4:59 p.m. R10 2 Towering Vision (4 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision) – Michael McNab; he drove through one off the rail with a big finish to win the Rating 75 1600 metres here on 19 September,  with Michael in the saddle, and he remains aboard. Since then he found the line well over a sprint distance in a trial on 6 October at Matamata to have him primed for this assignment. The first stakes’ winner for his sire as a two year old, he is one of three runners for the stable in the $55,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. He carries a big weight (60kg) and will likely get back from his tricky draw (9), but he brings winning form to again prove competitive. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.95.

4:59 p.m. R10 6 Perlino (4 m Super Seth – Palomino) – Craig Grylls; she closed hard off the trail for second when resuming in the Rating 73 1550 metres on 30 September at Cambridge (poly-track), and also lines up in the Rating 75 1600 metres. She ended her previous campaign winning the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m), is a dual winner over 1600 metres, and has the ability to deliver a top four finish if things go her way from her wide gate (11). Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.95.

4:59 p.m. R10 15 Crown Princess (5 m Embellish – Princess Davone) – Wiremu Pinn; the third starter for the team in the Rating 75 1600 metres, she found line from back in the field for seventh when resuming in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 3 October at Matamata. She has been a dual winner to 1800 metres, has placed on the course, the visor blinkers are on, and from barrier three she has the talent to feature in the finish.  Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.40.

Otaki: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: out 4 metres. 2mls rain forecast Friday and no rain Saturday.   

3:32 p.m. R6 17 Bolli Belle (4 m Shamus Award – Fille Champagne) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she ran a slick sectional (33.6, 600m) from last to finish seventh in the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres on 25 September at Te Rapa, also with Hayley in the saddle, and contests the corresponding event. She won her first two starts last season to 1400 metres, carries the minimum weight (53.5kg), and look for her to be powering home. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.75. 

4:07 p.m. R7 3 Bright Stripes (6 g Starspangledbanner – Dutch Rose) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he resumed with a good effort for third in the Open Handicap 1500 metres on 25 September at Te Rapa, likewise with Hayley aboard, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. The pair combined for a strong fresh-up victory over 1400 metres in May, he was the Listed Tetrach Stakes winner in UK over 1600m, and he is a definite top four prospect if the pair can overcome the wide alley (11).  Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.70. 

Caulfield:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

3:25 p.m. (NZ) - 1:25 p.m. (Vic) R3 1 Geegees Mistruth (5 m Wordsmith – Miss Mana) – Blake Shinn; she came off the fence with a strong finish for fifth in Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) here on 27 September, also with the Champion Victorian rider in charge, and contests the A$200,000 Listed Manhari Alinghi Stakes (1100m). While she carries the top weight (61kg) as a Group One winner, she has notched up seven career wins to 1400 metres, and brings the right form to really make an impact in this field, where she has been installed as favourite.  NZ TAB fixed odds: $2.20 & $1.20.

4:00 p.m. (NZ) - 2:00 p.m. (Vic) R4 13 I Am Aria (3 f I Am Invincible – Talaria) – Michael Dee; after racing outside the leader, she produced a courageous effort that was full of merit for second in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes (1100m) here on 27 September. Former the Akau apprentice Michael Dee rode her on that occasion and is the pilot again for the A$200,000 Listed Quayclean Gothic Stakes (1400m). She has placed three from four in Group races on course, looks fantastic and is racing well. She has a perfect gate (4) and if she appreciates her first attempt over 1400m, she will be a real danger to her opposition. NZ TAB fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.85. 

5:45 p.m. (NZ time) R7 1 Lara Antipova (3 f Russian Revolution – Artistic Lass) – Craig Williams; she extended beautifully to win Listed Michael Moroney (1400m) on 12 September at Flemington, and was fourth after a good trip in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) here on 27 September. She takes her place in the feature, the A$1.5 million Group 1  Stow Storage Thousand Guineas (1600m) as last season’s NZ Champion Two-Year-Old, having won all four juvenile starts including the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and could prove the surprise package in this quality field despite her awkward barrier (9) - she has the right man in the saddle to navigate that challenge. NZ TAB fixed odds: $17.00 & $4.40.

Avoca:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 1.5 metres 400m – winning post, remainder true. No rain forecast.

3:36 p.m. (NZ) - 1:36 p.m. (Vic) R1 10 Regal Banter (3 f King’s Legacy – Chit Chat) – Liana Wood (a3); she was unable to quicken from a good position when resuming in Maiden 3YO 1450 metres on 28 September at Kilmore, and contests the A$25,000 Maiden 1860 metres. She did well for second off a tough trip on debut as two-year-old, has the benefit of weight relief to 52kg, and this is a good opportunity for her to improve as she steps up in distance. 

4:11 p.m. (NZ) - 2:11 p.m. (Vic) R2 7 Fully Funded (4 m Snitzel – Bright Path) – Dylan Dunn; she did well for fourth after being caught back and wide in Maiden Fillies & Mares 1100 metres on 29 September at Tatura, and contests the A$25,000 Maiden 1300 metres. She has delivered good efforts for third and fourth this time in, has placed in three of five starts, and is ideally drawn (3) to rate a top three chance.  

4:46 p.m. (NZ) - 2:46 p.m. (Vic) R3 1 Berardo (3 g Hanseatic – Belzella) – Dylan Dunn; he looked good winning a trial on 1 October at Caulfield, and debuts in the A$25,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. He is the half-brother to dual winning stable-mate Astari (Starspangledbanner), by sprint sire Hanseatic (Street Boss), while his dam Belzella (Bel Esprit) won four times to 1200 metres and was Group Three placed over 1000 metres. He has drawn nicely (4) and first-up can be right in this at the business end. 

5:58 p.m. (NZ) - 3:58 p.m. (Vic) R5 1 Sheanadh (4 m Night Of Thunder – Disbelieve) – Liana Wood (a3); she resumed with victory in Benchmark 56 1100 metres on 1 September at Wodonga, and finished strongly for third in Benchmark 56 1100 metres on 29 September at Tatura, both with apprentice Liana Wood aboard. Contesting the A$20,000 Benchmark 56 1300 metres, the weight relief to 59.5kg is a bonus, and she can certainly prove competitive with a decent trip from barrier eight. 

Bendigo:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 9 metres. No rain forecast.

4:19 p.m. (NZ) - 2:19 p.m. (Vic) R2 10 Girt By Sea (4 m Ocean Park – Baggy Green) – Patrick Moloney; she chased home solidly off the trail for second when debuting in Maiden Fillies & Mares 1450 metres on 28 September at Kilmore, and contests the A$32,000 Maiden 1600 metres. She is the sister to four-time Group One winner Tofane and half-sister to Group One winner No Compromise (Pins) so she certainly has family ties on her side. Her last run was encouraging but she will need a lot to go her way from her nasty draw (15).  NZ TAB fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.80.

Main picture - Asturia winning on debut