Te Akau Midweek Trans Tasman Preview

22 January, 2025

Te Akau Midweek Trans Tasman Preview


Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Wednesday 22 January at Matamata, New Zealand and one horse at Mornington, Victoria.?   

Matamata:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 7 metres. 8mls rain forecast Tuesday.

2:10 p.m. R1 7 Lady Of Court (4 m Savabeel – Are There Any) – Craig Grylls; she made up plenty of ground from beyond midfield for second in the Rating 60 1400 metres on 4 January at Te Aroha, and remains in the same grade for the $25,000 Rating 60 1400 metres. From barrier one, she rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.65.

2:45 p.m. R2 2 In Haste (2 f Snitzel – Prompt) – Craig Grylls; she began well to sit outside the leader and quickened to advantage when winning a trial here on 14 January. She fought hard for second after contesting a competitive pace when debuting in the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on 30 November at Ellerslie, also with Grylls aboard, and warrants favouritism in the $25,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1200 metres - one of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.15.

2:45 p.m. R2 5 Born To Be Royal (2 f King’s Legacy – Fatal Rendezvous) – Wiremu Pinn; she was caught wide in midfield, posted widest rounding the home turn, and ran on strongly for second to race rival Angels Brew in a trial here on 14 January. Debuting in the $25,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses), she is from a top Australian sprint family and has shown plenty of promise thus far.  She looks a top three prospect jumping from the inside gate in this small but very competitive line-up. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.20.

3:56 p.m. R4 2 Plenty O’ Style (4 g Embellish – Opulent) – Craig Grylls; she finished back when resuming in the Rating 65 1560 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and contests the $25,000 Rating 60 2000 metres. An easy Maiden winner over 1600 metres last season, he is presented with an opportunity to improve over more distance but will need a lot to go his way from the wide draw (14). Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.90.

4:30 p.m. R5 7 The Sky Above (4 m American Pharoah – Blue Blue Sky) – Wiremu Pinn; unfortunately she was pulled up after rearing in the gates, having been spooked by another horse, in the Maiden 1200 metres on 2 January at Tauranga. She was then held together with more to offer when finishing third in a trial here on 14 January. One of two stable-mates contesting the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres, she placed in four of five starts to 1600 metres on course last season, and is ideally drawn (4) to deliver a dividend paying result. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.    

4:30 p.m. R5 13 Viva Glam (3 f Savabeel – Style By Design) – Marc Lerner; she got back second last and ran home strongly for third in a trial here on 14 January. Resuming in the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres, she finished third here on debut as a two-year-old, and out of stakes’ placed mare that won twice over 1200 metres, she looks a top three chance. $11.00 & $3.40. 

5:46 p.m. R7 11 Shockabella (3 f Shocking – My Isabella) – Craig Grylls; she finished strongly from last to snatch fourth in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, also with Grylls aboard, and contests the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres. She is suited stepping up in distance, and is a live first four contender if she secured luck from her difficult barrier (13). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

6:28 p.m. R8 14 Court Of Appeal (4 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel) – Wiremu Pinn; she got back last, 10 lengths off the leaders at the 600m, and ran home solidly for fourth in a trial here on 14 January. Resuming in the $25,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, she was a course winner over 1400 metres in September, and is bred for staying distances. While she is capable of a top four finish, she is another that has been treated roughly by her draw (11) in a solid field. Fixed odds: $19.00 & $5.00.  


Mornington:

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

9:30 p.m. (NZ) ~ 7:30 p.m. (Vic) R8 5 Dreamflight (6 g Frankel – Dream Peace) – Shane Foley; he was strong through the line when winning a jump out on 13 January at Cranbourne, and resumes in the A$55,000 Benchmark 74 1600 metres. A Group Three and Listed winner over 1600 metres in France before coming to Australia, he is having first start for the stable. He is fit following three jump outs and appears capable of bold run first-up. NZ TAB fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.40. 

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