Te Akau Saturday Trans Tasman Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing at three venues on Saturday 5 March.

Flemington:

As on Friday March 4 the conditions were: fine and Good4, rail true. There is no rain forecast.

6.30 p.m. (NZ time) R7 5 Xtravagant (3 c Pentire - Axiom) - Matt Cameron; was simply brilliant when beating older horses, by eight lengths, under weight-for-age conditions in the $200,000 NRM Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 13 February at Te Rapa, having blown his three-year-old rivals away when winning the $400,000 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) in race record time (1:33.5) on 7 November at Riccarton. He has trained on very well and drawn beautifully in barrier three for the $750,000 Australian Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). The Aussies have definitely taken note, and Betfair (probably the most accurate market) has him a clear favourite at $3.40. With his electric gate speed and love of the rail, he should be in or near the lead and given what he has achieved on NZ soil take a power of beating. Although some Aussie pundits are suggesting the history books are against him, he appears the right colt to change it.

Ellerslie:

As on Friday 4 March the conditions were: fine and Dead6, rail true. There is no rain forecast.

3.24 p.m. R6 6 Windborne (3 f Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby) - Cameron Lammas; comes off 42 days since finishing fourth in the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres on 23 January at Trentham, and contests the $70,000 Mr Tiz Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) from barrier ten. She has the gate speed to overcome the draw, goes well fresh, and won here impressively on debut with this rider aboard. As expected, the field is pretty hot but she is a dual stakes winner and sure to give a good account of herself.

4.42 p.m. R8 2 Duchess Kate (3 f Savabeel - Royal Prize) - Cameron Lammas; yielded late in the $100,000 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 13 February at Te Rapa, having shown enormous fighting qualities to win the $70,000 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 30 January at Trentham. With the addition of a tongue tie, she races well on this course and on form appears a good each way chance in the $70,000 Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m).

Wingatui:

As on Friday 4 March the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true. There is no rain forecast.

3.43 p.m. R8 4 Princess Davone (3 f Iffraaj - Nikey Davone) - Darryl Bradley; was bumped and became unbalanced before finishing fourth in the $50,000 Southland Guineas (Listed, 1600m) on 21 February at Winton, and from barrier three she contests the $50,000 NZB Airfreight Stakes (Listed, 1400m). Two starts ago, she changed ground late before rushing into third here in the $50,000 Dunedin Guineas (Listed, 1400m) and looks a good each way chance again.