Te Akau Saturday Trans Tasman Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Saturday 30 October: Tauranga, Awapuni, Flemington (Melbourne).

Tauranga:

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy11, rail: out 8 metres 1000m - 400m, remainder out 6 metres. 8mls rain forecast Saturday.

2.50 p.m. R5 5 Befranklin (4 g Civics - Dixie Belle) - Opie Bosson; showed resolve winning trial on 21 October at Te Rapa, and debuts in $15,000 Maiden 1600 metres. His performance depends on his appreciation of conditions. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70.

Awapuni:

Weather: overcast, track: Dead6, rail: out 6 metres 750m - 450m, remainder true (outside bend). 3mls rain forecast Friday and Saturday.

1.55 p.m. R5 1 Aotea Lad (5 g Savabeel - Corsage) - Callum Jones (a3); ran the fastest last 600m (34.8) getting home for second in the Rating 74 1300 metres on 17 October at Rotorua, and steps up in the $30,000 Rating 74 1600 metres.  A close third at his only course attempt, he has weight relief to 58.5kg, and is capable of featuring in the finish with the right trip from barrier seven. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.90.

Flemington:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: true. Showers forecast.

5.00 p.m. (NZ time) R5 9 Amarelinha (4 m Savabeel - Hopscotch) - James McDonald; New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, she made ground from last when resuming in Bill Ritchie Handicap (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 18 September and peaked late off a wide trip in Bentley Angst Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 9 October, both at Randwick. Drawn barrier four, she receives an opportunity to improve further in $1m TAB Empire Rose Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m). NZ TAB fixed odds: $13.00 & $4.00.

Former stable-mate and dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands) won the 2019 Empire Rose Stakes.

6.30 p.m. (NZ time) R7 11 Sword of State (3 c Snitzel - In the Vanguard) - Luke Currie; blew his rivals away on debut and ended his two-year-old campaign racing clear to win Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) in March at Ellerslie. Seventh and fifth respectively in two starts in Sydney, he contests $1.5m Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m). He has drawn barrier seven and will need his best foot forward in a red-hot field. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.50.

7.10 p.m. (NZ time) R8 9 Kahma Lass (4 m Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass) - Michael Dee; won the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) last November at Riccarton, and produced a terrific winning feat in the Weekend Hustler Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on 9 October at Caulfield. Dropping to 52kg in the $2m Kennedy Cantala Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), she has drawn barrier one and is talented but does meet a tough field. NZ TAB fixed odds: $17.00 & $4.80.