Te Akau Shark Set for Australian Debut

NZ Racing Desk reports:

Exciting New Zealand galloper Te Akau Shark will kick-off his
spring campaign in Australia on Saturday, where he will contest the
Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in front of some of his local
owners, including Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen.

The five-year-old son of Rip Van Winkle pleased connections with his
runner-up performance in the G2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa last
month and trainer Jamie Richards said he has settled in well to his new
surroundings in Sydney.

"He has travelled over in good order and he's worked up well. We are here to do our best," Richards said.

"He has got very good form in New Zealand, but he obviously needs to
step up to the mark to take that next step when he comes up against the
big boys over here in Sydney.

"He's doing well in himself, is bright and happy and his coat has
come on since he has been here. We are happy leading into the run but
have a lot of respect for the opposition as well."

Te Akau Shark will be ridden by James McDonald on Saturday and the
expat Kiwi jockey was impressed with how he worked on Tuesday morning.

"He's a pretty casual character. He floated around the course proper really," McDonald said.

"He was very adaptable to his leads and got this way around really
well. I couldn't fault him at this stage and hopefully he lives up to
his expectations.

"He's a pretty professional sort of horse. He swapped and changed
legs very easily and was very balanced around the bends so I can't see
it being an issue."

Meanwhile, stablemate Probabeel will have her first run this season
in the G2 Furious Stakes (1200m) and Richards is wary coming up against
in-form filly Libertini.

"James rode her on Tuesday morning as well on the course proper (and) he was happy enough with how she worked," Richards said.

"She is not the flashiest of track workers. It's going to be hard to
beat the good filly Libertini, but when we get to 1400m and a mile in
her next couple of starts she will be very competitive.

"She's a little bit backward coming out of our winter with her coat,
but she is really starting to lose it around her muzzle and eyes now.

"She has been here a couple of weeks and we are glad we have got her
over here nice and early to get a bit of sun on her back. She's going
the right way."

Probabeel has drawn gate one in a small but select field of seven,
while Te Akau Shark has drawn barrier 10 in a field of 14, with nine of
the runners from the Chris Waller stable.

Richards is also looking forward to Avantage joining the pair later
on in the spring but was slightly disappointed with her runner-up
performance at Ruakaka on Saturday.

"Avantage is at home and we are planning to bring her over," he said.
"Unfortunately she got beaten first-up over the weekend, but she just
didn't have everything in her favour."

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