Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has two horses entered on Saturday 6 June at Ellerslie, New Zealand; one horse entered at Swan Hill, and one horse entered at Flemington, both Victoria.

Ellerslie: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: out 12 metres. 17mls rain forecast Friday and 3mls Saturday.  

2:32 p.m. R5 10 Naughty Grannie (3 f Embellish – Tad Infinitum) – Wiremu Pinn; she recorded the 130th win this season for leading trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, when winning the Maiden 2000 metres by nearly four lengths on 20 May at Cambridge (poly-track). Contesting the $40,000 Rating 65 2100 metres, she does face a much tougher assignment stepping up in grade, but she was a big winner last time over a similar trip and brings right form to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.40. 

3:07 p.m. R6 11 War Of Succession (5 g Tavistock – Ziffel) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he raced solidly for third in the Rating 75 2100 metres here on 16 May, and steps up in the $45,000 Open Handicap 2100 metres. He’s put together a good record at Ellerslie with three wins on the course including over 2100 metres with Hayley aboard. He carries the minimum weight 53kg, and possesses the ability to prove competitive if Hayley can find some luck in the running from his wide draw (13). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.05. 

Swan Hill:

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

5:36 p.m. (NZ) - 3:36 p.m. (Vic) R7 6 Titahi Bay (3 f Spirit Of Boom – Aotearower) – Joe Bowditch; she closed strongly for third over 1000 metres in March at Cranbourne, was freshened, and since then looked good finishing third in a jump out on 18 May at Cranbourne. Resuming in the A$27,000 Benchmark 62 Fillies & Mares 1300 metres, she was a stylish Maiden winner earlier in the season over 1430 metres, has the ability to perform well when fresh and should prove competitive from her handy gate (3).  NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.10.

Flemington:

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy8, rail: out 8 metres. No rain forecast. 

6:00 p.m. (NZ) -  R8 1 Azazel (3 g Shocking – Alagant Angel) – Jamie Mott; he closed solidly from last when resuming in the 3YO 1600 metres on 9 May at Caulfield, and has had a jump out since then on Heavy9 going on 18 May at Cranbourne. Earlier this season he made it two wins from three starts in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m), and was spelled following an attempt at the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m). This race presents opportunity for him to prove competitive albeit up against a strong form field in the A$150,000 3YO 2000 metres. NZ TAB fixed odds: $26.00 & $7.00.

Main picture - War of Succession winning at Ellerslie