Te Akau Trans-Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Friday 26 April at Matamata, New Zealand, and Cranbourne, Victoria.

Matamata:

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: out 3.5 metres. 3mls rain forecast Friday. ?

1:22 p.m. R2 1 Treaty of Paris (4 g Tavistock – Echezeaux) – Dean Parker (a2); he worked forward to lead and fought well for third after being collared by eventual winner Hula Beat in the Rating 65 & Jumpers 2000 metres here last Friday, and contests the $17,000 Rating 65 & Jumpers High-weight 2000 metres. Two starts ago, he won the corresponding race over 2100 metres at Pukekohe, with Parker aboard, and rates a top three chance.  

1:57 p.m. R3 2 Baronet (4 g Contributer – Alpha Dame) – Warren Kennedy; he fought well for third on footing downgraded to Heavy9 in the Rating 65 1400 metres here on 27 March, and was a close sixth in the Rating 60 1400 metres on 12 April at Woodville. Contesting the $17,000 Rating 60 1200 metres, he is a course/distance winner, the blinkers are on, and presents as a top three chance - one of two in the event for the team.

1:57 p.m. R3 5 Luxuriant (6 m Iffraaj – Opulent) – Tayla Melvin (a4); she resumed with a close up sixth to stable-mate Merlotti in the $17,000 Rating 60 1200 metres here on 27 March, also with Melvin aboard, and contests the corresponding event. With weight relief to 54kg, she is a top three contender also. 

2:32 p.m. R4 8 Not Straight Laced (3 f Turn Me Loose – Clos De Tart) – Warren Kennedy; she finished strongly for second in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 10 January at Matamata, and was spelled following her next start when tightened for room over 1200 metres at Te Rapa. Resuming without a trial in the $17,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, she has drawn barrier five and has the ability to figure in the finish -0 the first of two for the stable lining up in this race.

2:32 p.m. R4 10 Mitre Peak (3 f More Than Ready – Liten Prinsessa) – Vinnie Colgan; she spelled following her debut over 1100 metres in December at New Plymouth, and closed the margin for fifth when resuming without a trial in the Maiden 1100 metres on 1 April at Otaki. She is ideally drawn (4) to race well again in the $17,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. 

4:17 p.m. R7 5 Zantabulous (4 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Wiremu Pinn; she was deserving of her third career success when comfortably winning the Rating 75 1600 metres on 14 April at Te Rapa, with Pinn aboard, and remains in the same grade for the $17,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. She has won twice to 1400 metres on the home track, and has definite first four claims with any luck from her wide draw (12) - the first of a stable duo contesting the race.

4:17 p.m. R7 9 Family Ties (4 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Warren Kennedy; she won the Rating 65 1400 metres on 16 March at Tauranga, and was caught wide when up in grade for the Rating 75 1500 metres on 6 April at Pukekohe. She has raced well on her home track, but she too requires a large dose of luck from the wide draw (14) in the $17,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. 

Cranbourne:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast.?

10:15 p.m. (NZ) - 8:15 p.m. (Vic) R7 2 Rubicon Crossing (3 f Rubick – Miss Foxwood) – Luke Cartwright (a3); she raced wide in midfield and ran home well for fourth when resuming in the A$40,000 Benchmark 64 Fillies & Mares 1000 metres here on 29 March, and contests the corresponding event. She enjoys weight relief to 58.5kg thanks too the apprentice engagement, was second in both the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) and Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1100m) last season, and rates a top three chance from barrier six. NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.