Te Akau Trans Tasman Thursday Preview

Te Akau Racing has one horse entered on Thursday 4 June at Te Aroha, New Zealand and two horses entered at Geelong, Victoria.

Te Aroha: 

Weather: fine, track: Heavy8, rail: out 6 metres. 3mls rain forecast Thursday afternoon. 

3:04 p.m. R5 4 Pokuru Gold (5 g Darci Brahma – Pokuru Nugget) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he closed strongly for third when resuming in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 18 April and was again impressive in the finish after being held up for a close second in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 16 May, both at Ellerslie. Contesting the $40,000 Open Handicap 1150 metres, in-form Hayley retains the ride so brings weight relief to 56kg, he’s recorded two wins on heavy ground and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.50. 

Geelong:

Weather: showers, track: Heavy8, rail: out 3 metres. 25mls rain forecast Thursday.

4:00 p.m. (NZ) - 2:00 p.m. (Vic) R4 2 Rainsun (3 g The Autumn Sun – Raindrops On Roses) – Jamie Mott; he began smartly from his outside gate (10) to race outside the leader and found plenty for a very close second when debuting in the Maiden 1590 metres on 16 May at Wodonga. Contesting the A$42,500 Maiden 1715 metres, he is a direct descendant of Melbourne Cup winner Let’s Elope (Nassipour), and his dam Raindrops On Roses (High Chaparral) won four races from 2000m – 2500m. It was a good first-up effort and with any luck from the wide gate (14), he can figure in the finish. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.40. 

5:30 p.m. (NZ) - 3:30 p.m. (Vic) R7 1 In Haste (3 f Snitzel – Prompt) – Liana Wood (a4); she has been given time (36 days) and patiently handled since last racing, looked good finishing second in a jump out on 18 May at Cranbourne, and contests the A$35,000 Benchmark 62 1112 metres. She fashioned a good record when racing in New Zealand with two wins and two second placings from four starts, including second in Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), when trained from Te Akau stables in Matamata. The apprentice engagement sees her attract weight relief to 59kg, she’s been a winner on soft and heavy going, and she is ideally drawn (3) to return to the form we know she is capable of. NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.80.

Main picture - Pokuru Gold winning