Te Akau Royal Randwick Saturday Preview

Te Akau has three horses racing on Saturday 11 April at Royal Randwick (Sydney).

Randwick:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy8, rail: out 4 metres.

4.30 p.m. (NZ time) R6 1 Probabeel  (3 f Savabeel - Far Fetched) - Opie Bosson; received a chequered passage on a muddling pace before rounding off strongly for second to Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt) in the Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) on 28 March at Rosehill. Back to Randwick, where she won the Surround Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 29 February and finished second in the Phar Lap Stakes (Gr. 2, 1500m) on 14 March. She steps in distance again for the $500,000 The Star Australian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). Class, which she possesses in abundance, has a significant bearing in these types of races where getting the trip is paramount, while reasonable going would be preferred. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.50.  

5.55 p.m. (NZ time) R8 4 Te Akau  Shark (5 g Rip Van Winkle - Bak Da Chief) - Opie Bosson; produced a stunning win here in the Chipping Norton Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 29 February before finishing third in the George Ryder Stakes (Gr. 1, 1500m) on 21 March at Rosehill. He has a terrific record at Randwick, finished third in the Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) when stepped in distance for the first time, handles rain-affected going, and a terrific weight-for-age horse that appears ideally suited in the $2m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). Fixed odds NZ TAB: $5.00 & $1.95.

5.55 p.m. (NZ time) R8 13 Melody Belle  (5 m Commands - Meleka Belle) - Kerrin McEvoy; was mighty brave when carrying equal top weight (57kgs) here last Saturday to finish fourth in the Doncaster Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m). The reigning NZ Horse of the Year, winner of 10 Group Ones, Melody Belle has shown her ability over 2000 metres by winning the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m), Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m), and finishing second in the Mackinnon Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). A tiger that handles rain-affected going, and one of only two mares in the race along with Kiwi bred Verry Elleegant (Zed), she will certainly give it her all. NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.50 & $2.90.  

Back