Te Akau Saturday Trans Tasman Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has thirteen horses racing on Saturday 14 September: Ruakaka, Awapuni and Flemington (Melbourne).

Ruakaka:

Weather: cloudy, track: Dead5, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Saturday afternoon.

12.52 p.m. R1 3 Ronaldo's Dream (3 g Darci Brahma -
Sweet Dreams Baby) - Opie Bosson; worked home from last off a wide gate to
finish fifth on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 28 August at Matamata,
and has blinkers on in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. In a market
dominated by No. 1 ($1.35), extra distance and better footing should suit.
Fixed odds: $21.00 & $2.60.

1.27 p.m. R2 2 Mazzuro (5 g Rip Van Winkle - Mini
Pearl) - Opie Bosson; trialled twice in preparation to resume in the $25,000
Rating 72 1600 metres. A winner twice to 2200 metres in Melbourne, he has drawn
well (4) but indicators are to improve with the run and more distance. Fixed
odds: $10.00 & $2.90.

2.01 p.m. R3 6 Remington (5 g Darci Brahma - Kudamm) -
Chelsea Burdan (a4); came of age last spring when winning three of his four
starts at Riccarton, and had two quiet trials in preparation to resume in the
$35,000 Open 1200 metres. A talented horse at best, he claims to 51kgs and
could run a cheeky race in a smart field. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.00.

2.40 p.m. R4 2 Bak Da Master (5 g Mastercraftsman -
Bak Da Princess) - Opie
Bosson; was caught wide in the Rating 65 2100 metres on 17 August at Te
Rapa, following consistent efforts, and contests the $22,500 Rating 65 2100
metres. Drawn barrier one, he rates a top four chance. Fixed odds: $8.50 &
$2.70.

3.15 p.m. R5 7 Al Haram (7 g Sea the Stars - En
Public) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); had been racing solidly in good field before
breaking through in the Rating 72 2000 metres on 28 August at Matamata, with
Burdan aboard, and steps up in the $40,000 Ruakaka Cup (Open, 2200m). Suitably
drawn (6) in a good field, he brings winning form. Fixed odds: $9.00 &
$2.50.

3.50 p.m. R6 10 Savy Yong Blonk (4 m Savabeel - Ampin)
- Michael McNab; followed consecutive wins with notable efforts in the Desert
Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m),
before a third Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m), and spelled after a good fifth in
the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). Having trialled twice in July at Te Rapa, she has
the class to race well fresh in the $30,000 Rating 82 1400 metres. Fixed odds:
$12.00 & $3.50.

4.25 p.m. R7 1 Aotea Lad (3 g Savabeel - Corsage) -
Opie Bosson; was a nominee for Champion Two-Year-Old, won by stable-mate
Yourdeel (Dundeel), following Te Akau stars Melody Belle (Commands) and
Avantage (Fastnet Rock) the two previous years. He debuted winning the
Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m) and finished second to stable-mate Probabeel in the $1m Karaka
Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m). Ideally drawn (3) in the $70,000 Cambridge
Stud Northland Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m), where No. 2 dominates betting
($1.50), he has the class to rate an each way chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 &
$1.60.

5.00 p.m. R8 2 Duck
Road (4 g Ekraar - Silver Buttons) - Troy Harris; trialled solidly
on two occasions in August and resumes in the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. Third
last time out in a strong $80k Special Conditions 1400 metres in February at
New Plymouth, he can act fresh and although destined for more ground should go
well from barrier three. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.40.

5.00 p.m. R8 7 Scottish Star (4 m Bullbars - Highland
Lights) - Opie Bosson; beat Helena Baby (Guillotine), who then won five in row,
on debut over 1200 metres in March at Matamata, and spelled in April after
finishing third at her next start. Following two quiet trials in August, she
resumes in the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres and rates a top four chance. Fixed
odds: $4.80 & $1.90.

5.00 p.m. R8 10 Ritzy Sparkle (4 m Pins - Kumari) - Michael McNab; has finished fifth in both starts since resuming and contests the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. Better footing should suit, but she requires luck from a wide draw (13). Fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.60.

Awapuni:

Weather: drizzling, track: Heavy10, rail: true. 7mls rain forecast.

1.42 p.m. R3 3 Richard of Yorke (8 g Oasis Dream -
Cascata) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); was freshened before a strong run for second in
the Rating 72 2000 metres on 24 August at New Plymouth, and contests the
$30,000 Rating 82 2200 metres. Solid when fifth over a mile here in April with
Kamaruddin aboard, he was narrowly defeated in the Parliamentary Handicap (Open
2200m) at Trentham, handles heavy ground and should go well with weight relief
to 54.5kgs. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.45.

2.59 p.m. R5 9 Meteoric Lass (5 m Stratum - Benatar) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); resumed with a very good second to up-and-comer Supreme Heights (Jimmy Choux) in the Rating 72 1200 metres on 31 August at Ruakaka, and has weight relief to 53kgs in the $25,000 Rating 72 1300 metres. Before spelling in December she finished second on Heavy 10 in a smart Rating 72 1200-metre field at Ellerslie, and should go well if appreciative of conditions.

Flemington:

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

2.30 p.m. (NZ time) R1 8 Caliburn (5 h Camelot - Enchanted
Evening) - Damian Lane; makes his Australasian debut in the $135,000 Very
Special Kids Pin and Win Plate (2500m). The winner of two races, most recently
over 2400 metres in June at Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England, he has pleased
in training and while expected to improve for the run his place in the betting
market ($8.00 Sportsbet) suggests a bold showing. NZ TAB fixed odds: $7.00
& $2.50.

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