Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 10 horses entered on Saturday 14 May: Rotorua, Hawera, and Eagle Farm (Brisbane).

Rotorua:

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 1.5 metres from 900m - 300m, remainder true. No rain forecast.

11:38 a.m. R1 10 Trieste (3 f Tivaci - Domani Oro) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); resumed with a strong finish for third to subsequent winner Alchemia (Per Incanto) in a Maiden 1200 metres on 20 April at Matamata, and steps up in the $15,000 Maiden 1400 metres. She has ability and the right form to rate a top three prospect. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

12:11 p.m. R2 9 Sternland (3 f Astern - Landslide) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); fought hard from outside the leader for third to stable-mate I'm Not Bossy (Jimmy Choux), a Te Akau trifecta, in a Maiden 1400 metres on 20 April at Matamata. Ideally drawn (3) in the $12,000 Maiden 1400 metres, she brings the form to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

12:44 p.m. R3 7 Synchronize (3 f Savabeel - Splits) - Michael McNab; got back and ran home wide when resuming in the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 30 April at Te Rapa, and drops slightly in class for the $30,000 3YO 1400 metres. She has the quality to rate a top three proposition from handy barrier five. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.10.

12:44 p.m. R3 8 Millefiori (3 f Iffraaj - Miss Bluebell) - Kozzi Asano; resumed with a  close fourth on slow footing in a Rating 65 1200 metres on 25 March at Hawera, and was okay finishing fifth in a Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres on 20 April at Matamata. She won two of three starts as two-year-old and is capable of good performance if able to recapture her best form in the $30,000 3YO 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.30.

2:32 p.m. R6 7 Leaderboard (7 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Craig Grylls; stepped up with a decisive victory in the New Zealand St Leger (Listed, 2600m) on Oaks Day (19 March) at Trentham, and backed it up with another big effort for second in the Hawke's Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m) on 16 April at Hastings. Given time (28 days), he appears ideally drawn (4) and weighted (53kg) to rate a top three chance in the $85,000 Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (Gr. 3, 2200m). Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.50.

3:42 p.m. R8 1 Mai Tai (5 m Atlante - Tropical Punch)- Jonathan Riddell; was given time (28 days) following a solid fifth to stable-mate Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 16 April at Te Rapa. She is a genuine stakes' performer: listed win and placed at  Group Two and Three, she however requires huge luck from her wide draw (19) in the weight-for-age $80,000 Rydges Rotorua Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) - a race with two Te Akau contestants. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00.

3:42 p.m. R8 13 Shepherd's Delight (3 f Rip Van Winkle - Safari Sunset) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); franked her previous effort with fifth in the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 30 April at Te Rapa, and steps to weight-for-age in the $80,000 Rydges Rotorua Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m). Second to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in the NZ 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), part of a Te Akau first four, she has talent but requires the right trip from awkward barrier 10. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.50.

4:17 p.m. R9 20 Dancing Sands (3 f Contributer - Tonic) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); won trial on 12 April at Avondale, before capitalising on good trip to win a Pearl Series Maiden 1400 metres here on 29 April. Up in grade for the $30,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, she rates a top three prospect following a course/distance win. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

Hawera:

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Saturday.

12:25 p.m. R2 4 Pisco Sour (3 f I Am Invincible - Refreshing) - Lisa Allpress; capped good form with an impressive six and three-quarter lengths victory in a Maiden 1200 metres on 20 April at Matamata, and contests the $30,000 2YO & 3YO 1200 metres. Given her last start performance, she warrants favouritism. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.35.

Eagle Farm:

Weather: showery, track: Soft6, rail: out 7 metres. 13mls rain forecast Friday, 2mls Saturday.

6:02 p.m. (NZ time) R8 13 Entriviere (5 m Tavistock - Marcey's Belt) - Opie Bosson; exploded clear to win the Sistema Railway (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, and was freshened following a good second to Levante (Proisir) in the BCD Group Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 12 February at Te Rapa. She departed for Queensland after two good trial performances and resumes in the $1 million TAB Doomben 10,000 (Gr. 1, 1200m). Already a Group 2 winner over 1200 metres in Australia, there is no doubting her talent however she requires luck from the widest alley, barrier 15. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.