Te Akau Trans Tasman Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Sunday 6 July at Tauranga, Nw Zealand and two horses entered at Warrnambool, Victoria.

Tauranga: 

Weather: fine, track: Heavy10, rail: out 10 metres. No rain forecast. 

12:10 p.m. R1 8 Vickezzlastcall (3 f Wrote – Vickezzchardonnay) – Samantha Collett; she settled at the rear from her outside gate (12) and ran home strongly for fifth when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 15 June at Matamata. Contesting the $17,000 Maiden 2YO & 3YO 1400 metres, she is the half-sister to Te Akau trained triple stakes’ winner Aromatic, and comes from a family that handles yielding ground. With the former Te Akau apprentice aboard, she has drawn barrier one and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.85.

1:54 p.m. R4 9 Sybaris (3 f Magna Grecia – Ocean Fleet) – Samantha Collett; she finished midfield in the Pearl Series Maiden 2YO & Up Fillies and Mares 1600 metres on 15 June at Matamata, and contests the $17,000 Maiden 2YO & Up 2100 metres. She has previously won a trial on Heavy10 going, the progeny of her sire handled heavy ground, and she finds the chance here to prove more competitive if she appreciates the step up in distance. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.30.

3:47 p.m. R7 4 Charmrose (4 m Charm Spirit – Sovereign Rose) – Vinnie Colgan; she was claimed right on the line to finish second after leading in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 25 May at Ellerslie, and then was beaten a nose when racing on pace in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 15 June at Matamata. She certainly looks close to breaking through for her second career win as she contests the $17,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, - with a win but five second placings from eight starts, she deserves to have plenty of respect and can go close again - the first of two for the stable in the race. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.45.

3:47 p.m. R7 6 Inca Belle (5 m Per Incanto – Belle Vie) – Hayley Hassman (a3); she came out of midfield with a solid effort for second in the Rating 65 1150 metres on 22 June at Te Aroha, also with Te Akau apprentice in the saddle, and likewise contests the Rating 65 1200 metres. She notched up four wins to 1400 metres, including two here, has the advantage of a good record on heavy going, and the benefit of weight relief to 54.5kg. She is racing consistently and is a realistic first four prospect.  Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.45.

Warrnambool:

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy8, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast.

4:40 p.m. (NZ) ~ 2:40 p.m. (Vic) R4 1 Prismatic (6 g Savabeel – Kaleidoscope) – Jordan Hart (a3); he made steady progress from the rear for a very good second in the Maiden Steeplechase (3200m) on 15 June at Terang, and has since had a jump out over 1400 metres at Cranbourne on 30 June. Contesting the A$40,000 Warrnambool Sheetmetal Mark Primmer Memorial Steeplechase (3450m), he comes off a hat-trick of seconds in steeplechases and is forging a very good jumps’ record. The bonus of weight relief to 70.5kg is an assistance and he is once again more than capable of delivering a top three finish (main picture).  NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.10.

5:20 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:20 p.m. (Vic) R5 2 Leaderboard (10 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy) – Will Gordon; he was back to his best with a top performance for second in the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) on 1 June at Sandown, likewise with top jump’s jockey Gordon aboard, and has since displayed zip to lead throughout in a jump out over 1400 metres at Cranbourne on 30 June. Contesting the A$80,000 Hammonds Paints Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m), he’s in great form, and is set to make an impression in this feature. NZ TAB fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.15.