Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has eleven horses entered on Saturday 27 April: Te Rapa and Wanganui in New Zealand, and Morphetville in Adelaide, South Australia.?

Te Rapa:

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft7, rail: true. No rain forecast.?

1:05 p.m. R3 6 Insatiable (4 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Craig Grylls; he was caught out from a wide gate in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 6 April at Trentham, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1300 metres. He ran fastest last 600m (34.0) for third in the Rating 75 1200 metres when resuming here in February, at his only course attempt, has recorded three wins on soft ground, and is looking to show improvement. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $4.00. 

2:16 p.m. R5 9 Egyptian Queen (3 f Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Wiremu Pinn; she was hampered before finding the line when resuming in the 3YO 1200 metres on 6 April at Trentham, and steps up in the $100,000 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). This is always a very competitive race, and the filly finished fourth at her only course attempt, and was placed in both The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (Listed, 1340m) and Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m). Fixed odds: $31.00 & $7.00. 

2:49 p.m. R6 7 Freeze Frame (4 g Vadamos – Snow Petal) – Warren Kennedy; he finished strongly from back in the field for second to race rival Sumi in the $40,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres here on 14 April, and contests the corresponding event. He brings a solid course/distance record, was a dual winner this campaign, and is ideally drawn (5) to rate a top three chance - one of two in the race for the team. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00. 

2:49 p.m. R6 9 Aris Aris (5 m Contributer – Irish Encore) – Matt Cameron; she struck conditions beyond her when footing downgraded to Heavy10 in the City Of Napier Sprint (Listed, 1200m) on 13 April at Otaki, and contests the $40,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres. All four of her wins have come on soft ground, she possesses a solid course record, is generally consistent, and will be competitive if she can secure luck from her awkward draw (9). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00. 

4:34 p.m. R9 5 Malborough Bay (4 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin) – Craig Grylls; he struck conditions beyond him when the footing was downgraded to Heavy10 in $35,000 Rating 65 1400 metres on 13 April at Otaki, and contests the corresponding event. He posted a good effort for second prior in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 27 March at Matamata, and is perfectly drawn (4) to make his presence felt. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $6.00. ??

Wanganui:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: true. No rain forecast.?

3:02 p.m. R6 9 Popthebubbles (4 m Wrote – Vickezzlepin) – Lisa Allpress; she remained back when resuming in the $35,000  Rating 75 1600 metres on 14 April at Te Rapa, won by stable-mate Zantabulous, and contests the corresponding event. She was a maiden course/distance winner by six-plus lengths, both her wins have come over a mile on Heavy9 tracks, and she is capable of showing improvement to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.70. 

Morphettville:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: true. No rain forecast.

4:17 p.m.(NZ) ~ 1:47 p.m.(SA)  R4 4 Sans Doute (4 m Not A Single Doubt – My Prerogative) – Michael Dee; she rocketed home to claim a last gasp victory in the ATA/Bob Hoysted Stakes (Listed, 1000m) on 30 March at Flemington, with Dee aboard – recording a winning quadruple on the straight course – and contests the A$150,000 John Hawkes Stakes (Gr. 3, 1100m). Nicely weighted (54.5kg) again, she has won seven of 15, drawn (10) fits with her racing pattern of settling off pace, and she has first four claims given the career form she is in, if appreciative of this course at her first attempt. NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

4:52 p.m.(NZ) ~ 2:22 p.m.(SA) R5 10 Zourion (3 f Zoustar – Irion) – Michael Dee; she was spelled following the Thousand Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) in November at Caulfield, had some minor surgery, and resumes in the A$250,000 Sportsbet Tobin Bronze Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m). She looked good winning a 800-metre jump out on 15 April at Cranbourne, was an impressive debut winner before winning the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) at her second start, acts well in a fresh condition, and is another capable of finishing in the top four placings. NZ TAB fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80.   

5:27 p.m.(NZ) ~ 2:57 p.m.(SA) R6 1 Campionessa (6 m Contributer – Bella Carolina) – James McDonald; she got home strongly for third in the Sunline Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m) on 23 March at Moonee Valley after being blocked for room multiple times, and was then not far away when caught wide and buffeted in the Queen Of The Turf (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 13 April at Randwick. She won the Peter Young Stakes (Gr. 2, 1800m) on 24 February at Caulfield, at her first start in Australia, defeating two former Melbourne Cup winners. She is Group One winner this season, and the consummate professional, but requires everything to go her way from the wide alley (12) in the A$250,000 Queen Of The South Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m). NZ TAB fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00. 

6:07 p.m.(NZ) ~ 3:37 p.m.(SA) R7 9 Qali Al Farrasha (3 f Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Billy Egan; she finished a very close second (neck) in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m) on Derby Day (2 March) at Ellerslie, and was a game third to race rival Pulchritudinous in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) on 16 March at Trentham. Contesting the A$1 million Sportsbet Australasian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2000m), she worked up nicely in second position before finishing a close third in 1400-metre jump out on 15 April at Cranbourne, and shapes to prove competitive, however she is another dealt a significant blow by the barrier gods (19). NZ TAB fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.50.

6:42 p.m.(NZ) ~ 4:12 p.m.(SA) R8 6 Skew Wiff (4 m Savabeel – Starvoia) – Michael Dee; she was hampered for room before finding the line for seventh in the R. N. Irwin Stakes (Gr. 3, 1100m) here on 13 April, and contests the A$1 million Sportsbet Robert Sangster Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m). She won the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington, is a Group One winner in New Zealand this season, is undoubtedly talented, and handily drawn (5). NZ TAB fixed odds: $61.00 & $9.00.