Te Akau Melbourne Cup Day Trans-Tasman Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Tuesday 7 November: Pukekohe, and Flemington (Melbourne).

Pukekohe:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. Showers forecast.

3:30 p.m. R6 7 Aromatic (7 m Sacred Falls – Vickezzchardonnay) – Johnathan Parkes; she ran well for sixth in the Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) on 14 October at Hastings, and contests the $150,000 Balmerino Stakes (Gr. 3, 2050m). She possesses a good course record, including victory in the Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m), while also winning the Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m) and Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) last season. She rates a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $1.70.

4:04 p.m. R7 2 Puketiro (4 m Savabeel – Matakana) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she resumed with a stylish victory in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 23 September at Tauranga, and was beaten by the wide draw (13) in the Spring Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m) 14 October at Hastings. Impressive winning four of her six starts, she drops in grade for the $75,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, and carries a hefty impost (58kg) and is drawn wide (13), but nonetheless, has the measure of most in terms of ability. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

4:39 p.m. R8 5 Millefiori (5 m Iffraaj – Miss Bluebell) – Joe Kamaruddin; she got home fine in a trial on 10 October at Matamata, and ran the fastest last 600m (32.2) on day for second when resuming in the Open 1200 metres here on 28 October. Stepping up in the $110,000 Fulton Family Stakes (Listed, 1500m), three wins gave come over 1400 metres, and she is ideally drawn (5) to have first four claims with any emulation of her fresh-up performance. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.80.

4:39 p.m. R8 16 Cognito (4 g So You Think – Lady Primrose) – Niranjan Parmar (a); he justified favouritism with a last to first victory in the Rating 75 1400 metres here on 28 October, and steps up in the $110,000 Fulton Family Stakes (Listed, 1500m). The Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) winner last season, he brings the right form to rate a top four chance from barrier six. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

Flemington:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 2 metres. No rain forecast.

6:35 p.m. (NZ time) R9 2 Skew Wiff (4 m Savabeel – Starvoia) – Opie Bosson; she beat a smart field in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 9 September at Hastings, and was a close sixth in the Tristarc Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) on 21 October at Caulfield. Contesting the A$200,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m), she has the talent to race well but requires luck from the wide draw (11). NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.