Te Akau Group 1 Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing on Saturday 6 April: Te Aroha, and Randwick (Sydney).

Te Aroha:

As on Friday 5 April the conditions were: fine and Dead5, rail true. Occasional showers forecast.

12.17 p.m. R1 1 Fabulous Flight (4 g I Am Invincible - Court Flying) - Michael McNab; ran the fastest last 600m (34.6) when coming from last to finish fifth in the South Waikato Cup (Rating 72, 2000m) on 13 March at Matamata. He is stepping up in distance for the first time after winning here over 1600 metres and then again at Pukekohe. Drawn to receive an economical trip from barrier two, he rates a top three chance in the $25,000 Rating 72 2200 metres. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.65.

2.35 p.m. R5 2 Remington (4 g Darci Brahma - Kudamm) - Craig Grylls; came of age earlier in the season winning three of his four starts during a Spring campaign at Riccarton, most recently in the Rating 82 1400 metres during Cup Week in November. He looked fine in a quiet trial on 26 March at Cambridge, and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 82 1200 metres. Registering four wins and four seconds from eight starts reflects excellent consistency and ability, and although carrying plenty of weight (59.5kgs) he should be finishing strongly from off the pace. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.80.

3.45 p.m. R7 6 Mongolianconqueror (4 g Ocean Park - Queen Rania) - Michael McNab; resumes in the $40,000 Open 1400 metres. A big improver throughout his three-year-old season: beaten by a nose in the New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) and 3.2 lengths in the Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m), he looked in terrific order when winning a trial on 19 March at Matamata, and a solid tempo should see him working home strongly from off the pace. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.85.

4.25 p.m. R8 2 Our Abbadean (6 m Lookin At Lucky - Highland Lights) - Craig Grylls; had a terrific spring when contesting all three legs of the Triple Crown at Hastings, including very good performances for third and fifth, respectively, to stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands) in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400 metres) and Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m). She trialled well prior to a terrific third in the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) in December at Trentham, and freshened again since in preparation for the $200,000 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m). As expected, she meets a grand field of fillies and mares, looks in terrific order, has not put a foot wrong, and just requires a deft ride from barrier eight to be right amongst it. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.40.

Royal Randwick, Sydney:

As on Friday 5 April the conditions were: overcast and Slow7, rail true. Showers forecast Friday, fine Saturday. 

5.15 p.m. (NZ time) R6 11 Probabeel (2 f Savabeel - Far Fetched) - Opie Bosson; killed them in the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) on 26 January at Ellerslie, and right on the fastest last 600m (35.6) when running home strongly for sixth on unsuitable heavy footing in the Magic Night Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 16 March at Rosehill. Drawn 12 in the $1m Inglis Sires' (Gr. 1, 1400m) will see her back in running but if the pattern favours those off the pace then she has the X factor to test any two-year-old. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.10 NZ TAB, Sports Bet $11.00.

5.55 p.m. (NZ time) R7 3 In A Twinkling (3 g Fastnet Rock - Moment in Time) - Opie Bosson; followed a slashing run for second in the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m) with an equally tough performance for second in the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), both at Ellerslie, and ran a solid fifth on unsuitable heavy footing in the Tulloch Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) last Saturday at Rosehill. Unfortunately drawn wide (15) in the $2m Harrolds Australian Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), improved going should aid his prospects in an even field. Fixed odds: $31.00 & $7.25 NZ TAB, NSW TAB $41.00.

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