Te Akau Big Sydney Saturday

Te Akau Racing continues building towards a massive Saturday, with the unique prospect of three pre-post favourites in Group One races both here and in Australia.

Draws are out in Australia, for
both Probabeel (Savabeel) and Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) in their
respective tasks at Royal Randwick, Sydney, and this morning (Tuesday) each
worked on the course.

“Te Akau Shark, he worked on the
course proper, nice and early,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “James McDonald
rode him on his own. He worked quite keenly over 1200 metres and James was
certainly happy with his work.

“He has drawn awkwardly (16) in
the Epsom, which will make things particularly difficult for him. But, we'll
just train the horse for the remainder of the week with the view of getting him
to the race in the best possible shape.”

Te Akau Shark looked every bit a
potential Group One contender, both in NZ and Australia, when crossing the line
six lengths clear in the Coupland's Bakeries Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) and gets his
chance in the Epsom
Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) after finishing second there a month ago in the Tramway
Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m).

Purchased by David Ellis for $230,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock 2016 Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, Te Akau Shark has won five of his eight starts and $300,445 in prize money for his owners.

Following a slashing run in the Darley Tea Rose Stakes (Gr.
2, 1400m), Probabeel appears set to appreciate stepping in distance for the
Darley Flight Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) - fourth leg of the Princess Series - at
Royal Randwick.

Owned by Brendan Lindsay MNZM
& Jo Lindsay at Cambridge Stud, Probabeel was purchased as a yearling by
David Ellis for $380,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the 2018 Karaka
Book 1 Sale, and following a relative annihilation in the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) -
when becoming the third leg in a hat-trick of Karaka Million (Restricted
Listed, 1200m) winners for Te Akau, following Melody Belle (Commands) and
Avantage (Fastnet Rock) - she has extended her record to three wins and two seconds from eight
starts and $673,228 in prize money.

“Probabeel drew the outside (6) in a small field, so
she's got to go back but won't be too far off them and she'll run well,”
Richards said. “I was really happy with her this morning. She worked over 1000
metres on the grass. Ashley Handley, our staff member over here, worked her and
I've just kept things pretty simple. She's a filly that could become pretty
dour if we stepped up her work too much, so we've kept it sharp. She is eating
well, held her condition, and I think she looks terrific.”

On home soil, and awaiting draws on today Wednesday, reigning Horse of the Year Melody Belle will attempt to make history in the Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) at Hastings, thereby becoming the only horse to ever win the Triple Crown at their Spring Carnival.

“Melody Belle worked up very well over 1200 metres on the
grass this morning at Matamata, and she goes into the race in really good
order,” Richards said.

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