Te Akau NZ & Brisbane Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has nine horses racing at two venues on Saturday 10 June: Te Rapa, and Doomben.

Te Rapa:

As on Friday 9 June the conditions were: fine and Slow7, rail true. No rain forecast.

2.24 p.m. R5 4 Bishop Rock (4 g Fastnet Rock - Festival Princess) - Cameron Lammas; led from the outside gate and peaked on his run in the Rating 65 1600 metres here on 20 May, when second up off a lengthy spell. A dominant Maiden winner over a mile as a three-year-old, prior to contesting the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) won by stable-mate Xtravagant (Pentire), the step in distance should suit in the $20,000 Rating 65 2100 metres and further improvement would rate him an each way chance in this field.

3.33 p.m. R7 11 Tavis Star (5 m Tavistock - Megapins) - Michael McNab; produced an eye-catching fresh-up performance for fourth here in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 20 May and steps out in the $22,500 Rating 75 1600 metres. She comes in nicely weighted with 55kgs, is a very genuine performer, and can threaten with a touch of luck from barrier eleven.

4.09 p.m. R8 2 Esprit De Corps (4 g Bel Esprit - Vercors) - Danielle Johnson; fought hard for second on Heavy11 in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 21 May at Rotorua, following two good efforts for third and second, respectively, since resuming. Drawn barrier six in the $20,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, he again rates an each way chance if appreciative of the course at his first attempt.

4.09 p.m. R8 16 Corporate Missile (3 f Smart Missile - Corporate) - Samantha Spratt; ran a much better race here in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 20 May, with Spratt aboard. Three wide with cover from the outside gate, she fought hard to finish just over two lengths from the winner in fifth and beat home many capable gallopers. It was an improved performance and much more in keeping with the ability she had shown previously. From barrier nine in the $20,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, on similar footing, emulation of her latest effort would see her in the mix again at odds.

Doomben, Brisbane:

As on Friday 9 June the conditions were: fine and Good4, rail out 0.5 metres. No rain forecast and 19 degrees Saturday.

1.20 p.m. (NZ time) R1 1 Heroic Valour (3 c Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Opie Bosson; was scratched from racing on 27 May when the going was heavy at Eagle Farm, and takes his place in the $125,000 Daybreak Lover (Listed, 1200m) for three-year-olds. He went very close in his first Australian start, beaten a head after working to get handy in the Gold Coast Guineas (Gr. 3, 1200m). Clear top weight (60.5kgs), having already won a Group One race, he is highest rated (92) and has the quality to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $7.00.

Racenet race analysis: HEROIC VALOUR just missed when favourite in the Gold Coast Guineas. He has been kept fresh, has plenty of weight, but should be prominent.

1.55 p.m. (NZ time) R2 8 Jimmy Rea (5 g Thewayyouare - Maureen Terese) - Opie Bosson; was caught wide in midfield and just peaked on his run when resuming in the Rating 95 1200 metres on 27 May at Eagle Farm, and contests the $100,000 Hinkler Handicap (Listed, 1200m). The winner of six races from thirteen starts, and nearly half a million in prize money when trained by Mark Walker in Singapore, he has improved on his first up run, will appreciate better footing, but requires luck from a wide draw. Fixed odds: $21.00.

Racenet race analysis: JIMMY REA was not disgraced at Eagle Farm when having his first run since returning from Singapore and gets some gear changes (crossover nose band and tongue tie). All his six wins have been at this trip and he could run on late.

4.20 p.m. (NZ time) R6 13 Melody Belle (2 f Commands - Meleka Belle) - Opie Bosson; raced professionally and was quite brilliant winning the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) by nearly five lengths on 27 May at Eagle Farm. Extending her record to three wins in a row, following the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) in January and Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) in April. Immediately installed as favourite for the $600,000 J. J. Atkins (Gr. 1, 1600m), after her recent victory, she has continued to thrive in training and clearly the one they all have to beat. Fixed odds: $2.00.

Racenet race analysis: MELODY BELLE bolted in at Eagle Farm in the Sires Produce. She steps up to a mile but has won 4 of 6 starts and should be hard to hold off again. 

5.00 p.m. (NZ time) R7 6 Shocking Luck (3 g Shocking - Shamardal Luck) - Opie Bosson; tended to over race in front and tied up on heavy going when finishing sixth in the Grand Prix Stakes (Gr. 3, 2200m) on 27 May at Eagle Farm. At his previous start he travelled easily in fifth before racing away to win the Rough Habit Plate (Gr. 3, 2000m) here a fortnight earlier. Ideally drawn to receive cover from barrier one in the $600,000 Queensland Derby (Gr. 1, 2200m), he has continued to hold his condition and train well for his target race. Fixed odds: $5.00.

Racenet race analysis: SHOCKING LUCK disappointed last start but gets some gear changes (nasal strip and tongue tie) and could improve from the good gate.

6.20 p.m. (NZ time) R9 11 Zambezi Warrior (4 g Pentire - Zambezi) - Jeff Lloyd; covered the world yet still had the audacity to keep giving for a close second in the Premier's Cup (Gr. 3, 2200m) on 27 May at Eagle Farm. On this course a fortnight earlier, in the Chairman's Handicap (Gr. 3, 2000m), he received an early check and came from third last for a solid fourth. Ideally drawn in barrier three for the $300,000 Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2200m), he has continued thrive with the racing and trip away and deserves to be right in calculations. Fixed odds: $6.00.