Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has two horses entered on Saturday 31 October at Tauranga in New Zealand, and three horses entered at Flemington (Melbourne), and Traralgon (Victoria).    

Tauranga: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

2:28 p.m. R5 10 She Suits Herself (4 m Savile Row – Sleepygirl) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she kept closing off an economical trip to finish sixth in $40,000 Rating 65 2100 metres here on 14 October, with Hayley aboard, and contests the corresponding event. She showed improvement last time after no luck at her first two starts this prep., and while she meets a solid field, she is capable of proving competitive. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.35.

3:50 p.m. R7 7 Emma Twigg (4 m El Roca – Megara) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she ran the fastest last 600m (34.5) for second when resuming in the Rating 65 1050 metres on 16 September at Matamata, and the fastest on the day (33.9) for third in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 11 October at Rotorua. Contesting the $40,000 Rating 65 1300 metres, she is undoubtedly racing well this time in, and rates a top three chance from barrier four. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.60.

Flemington:

Weather: showers, track: Good4, rail: true. 5mls rain forecast Saturday.

3:00 p.m. (NZ) - 1:00 p.m. (Vic) R2 2 I Am Aria (3 f I Am Invincible – Talaria) – Blake Shinn; she produced a courageous effort for second after racing outside the leader in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes (1100m) on 27 September and delivered the same result, again finishing second after working hard on pace in the Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m) on 17 October, both at Caulfield. A multiple-times stakes’ placed filly, she has plenty of talent and upside, and lines up in the A$240,000 Group 3 TAB ONE POOL Vanity Stakes (1400m). She brings right form to deliver a top three result, but she will need all the skill and experience of champion jockey Blake Shinn to overcome her awkward draw (11). NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.05.

7:40 p.m. (NZ) - 5:40 p.m. (Vic) R9 1 Geegees Mistruth (5 m Wordsmith – Miss Mana) – William Pike; she was caught back and wide in Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) on 17 October at Caulfield with nothing going right for her at all. Contesting the A$240,000 Group 3 Asahi Super Dry Sprint (1100m)., she finished strongly for fifth the start prior in Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), carries top weight (59kg) and will require luck from her wide draw (13). NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.90.

Traralgon:

Weather: showers, track: Soft5, rail: true. 5mls rain forecast Saturday.

3:56 p.m. (NZ) - 1:56 p.m. (Vic) R2 15 Opunake (3 g Nicconi – Alana’s Party) – Dylan Dunn; he began well to lead and drew out with a strong gallop to win a jump out on 19 October at Cranbourne. Resuming in the A$32,000 Maiden 1100 metres, he is the half-brother to Te Akau purchased and trained dual Group Two, Group Three and Listed winner Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) and smart dual winning stable-mate Royal Rendezvous (Royal Meeting). He is ideally drawn (3) to race well first-up. 

Main picture - I Am Aria winning