Saturday is "B" Day
9 June, 2017
Well it could be called "D" Day but we prefer to call it "B" Day - it's a Big day, a Brisbane day and hopefully a Beauty day for Te Akau owners with plenty of Bounty!
Make no mistake, Group and Listed races are hard to win anywhere let alone against the tough, full-of-fight Australians and on their home turf - but with five runners in five stakes' races in Brisbane on Saturday (including two Group 1's) we are going to give it our very best shot!
racing.com reported:
Te Akau Racing will saddle a marquee team on Queensland's blue riband day of racing.
In action are star filly Melody Belle in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m), Hong Kong-bound three-year-old Shocking Luck in the G1 Queensland Derby (2200m), Zambezi Warrior in the G2 Brisbane Cup (2200m), Heroic Valour in the Listed Daybreak Lover (1200m) and Jimmy Rea in the Listed Mark Hinkler Handicap (1200m).
Melody Belle is the most favoured to win.
A clinical four-and-three-quarter-length winner of the G2 QTC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at her last start, the G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes and Karaka Million winner is as short as even money with local bookmakers.
"She's in really good order. She came through the Sires' run the other day really well," co-trainer Jamie Richards said.
"She's a straightforward filly, doesn't overtax herself on the training track. Opie [Bosson, jockey] was happy with her work on Tuesday. She's in good form and we can't fault her. She's ready to run a good race.
"We've got a lot of confidence in this filly. What she's been able achieve in her career so far has shown us she's pretty special."
 | Melody Belle (NZ)Trainer S.Autridge/J.Richards | |||
| ||||
| POS | Jockey | Track | Date | DIST | Race | WGT | MRG | Odds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 18 | O.P.Bosson | E FM | 27 MAY 17 | 1400m | SIRES' PRODUCE | 55kg | 4.8L | $5 | |
| 1 - 14 | M.J.McNab | AWAP | 1 APR 17 | 1400m | SIRES PROD | 54.5kg | 1.5L | $4.70 | |
| 1 - 14 | O.P.Bosson | ELLS | 29 JAN 17 | 1200m | KARAKA MILLION | 54.5kg | 1.3L | $32.40 | |
| 8 - 10 | M.J.McNab | ELLS | 14 JAN 17 | 1200m | 2Y-SWP | 55.5kg | 4.8L | $4.50 | |
| 3 - 8 | C.E.Lammas | TREN | 3 DEC 16 | 1100m | CHALLENGE STKS | 54.5kg | 2.9L | $3.20 |
Shocking Luck, a $5 favourite for the Derby, returns to the scene of his G3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) triumph last month, having weakened to sixth in Heavy going in the G3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago.
"He worked with Zambezi Warrior on Tuesday and Opie was really happy with him too. He said it was as good, if not better, than going into the Grand Prix," Richards said.
"Going back to Doomben on a better surface is going to help him and he's got a lovely barrier [drawn one]. He'll get handy and track the speed and should get a good run from there.
 | Shocking Luck (NZ)Trainer S. Autridge/J.Richards | |||
| ||||
| POS | Jockey | Track | Date | DIST | Race | WGT | MRG | Odds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 - 14 | O.P.Bosson | E FM | 27 MAY 17 | 2200m | GRAND PRIX | 57kg | 9.2L | $3.60 | |
| 1 - 13 | O.P.Bosson | DOOM | 13 MAY 17 | 2000m | ROUGH HABIT | 57kg | 2.8L | $6 | |
| 2 - 10 | O.P.Bosson | IPSW | 1 MAY 17 | 1500m | CL3-SW | 55.5kg | 0.1L | $2.70 | |
| 2 - 16 | C.E.Lammas | TE R | 4 FEB 17 | 2000m | WAIKATO GNS | 56.5kg | 0.5L | $33 | |
| 2 - 13 | .Elliot | MATA | 13 JAN 17 | 2000m | RATING 65 | 57kg | 0.8L | $4.10 |
Richards rated Zambezi Warrior a 'realistic chance' in the Brisbane Cup (2400m) after a fourth placing in the G3 Chairman's Handicap (2000m) at Doomben and second in the G3 Premier's Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm at his past two starts.
"He's in good form. He's improved out of sight on the trip and he's thrived since the race the other day," Richards said.
"He's not great away from the gates so he'll probably get three or four back the fence from the draw [barrier three] and he might need some luck from there. Jeff Lloyd rode him in work on Tuesday and he was happy and I'd like to think he's a winning chance."
| Zambezi Warrior (NZ)Trainer S. Autridge/J.Richards | |||
| ||||
| POS | Jockey | Track | Date | DIST | Race | WGT | MRG | Odds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 - 14 | J.Lloyd | E FM | 27 MAY 17 | 2200m | PREMIER'S CUP | 54kg | 0.5L | $8.50 | |
| 4 - 13 | J.Lloyd | DOOM | 13 MAY 17 | 2000m | CHAIRMAN'S | 54kg | 3.8L | $10 | |
| 2 - 12 | O.P.Bosson | AVON | 25 APR 17 | 1600m | RATING 85 | 58kg | 0.3L | $4.10 | |
| 4 - 10 | J.J.Fawcett | ELLS | 1 APR 17 | 1500m | RATING 85 | 54kg | 2L | $5.90 | |
| 6 - 18 | O.P.Bosson | TREN | 21 JAN 17 | 3200m | WELLINGTON CUP | 56.5kg | 3L | $13.40 |
"It's pretty daunting to have the favourite for both the J.J. Atkins and Queensland Derby, but also a massive feat for us and that all stems from the horses Dave [Ellis, Te Akau principal] buys, the support from our owners and the efforts of our entire staff.
"A lot of effort has gone into getting these horses ready to be at their best for this carnival. Now, hopefully, we can have a bit of luck. It's exciting but I'm more nervous than excited at this stage to be honest."
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