Te Akau Super Saturday Trans-Tasman Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Saturday 13 February: Te Rapa, Flemington (Victoria), and Royal Randwick (N.S.W.).

Te Rapa:

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: out 1 metre. No rain forecast.

12.45 p.m. R2 2 Burgundy Rose (4 m Burgundy - Paraiba) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); did a good job in front, drawing clear with leader for second in the Rating 74 1200 metres on 31 January at Pukekohe. Contesting the $30,000 Rating 74 1200 metres, she has weight relief to 58.5kg, ran well for third here in December at her only course attempt, and brings the right form to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.00.

12.45 p.m. R2 3 Festivity (4 m I Am Invincible - Mabsam) - Opie Bosson; was never clear when finishing fifth to stable-mate Entriviere (Tavistock) in the Concorde Handicap (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Karaka Million Night (23 Jan.) at Ellerslie, and contests the $30,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. The winner of four from six, she carries her share of weight (60.5kg) but has the record to prove tough from barrier four. Fixed odds: $1.65 & $1.15.

1.55 p.m. R4 2 Perfect Scenario (3 g Iffraaj - Rosetti Bay) - Danielle Johnson; stepped up in class with a brave effort for fifth in the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) on 23 January at Ellerslie. A consistent performer and proven in age group stakes' races, he should go well if appreciative of both the course at his first attempt and increasing trip for $100,000 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m). Fixed odds: $9.50 & $2.60.

3.05 p.m. R6 7 Avantage (5 m Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Opie Bosson; recorded a sixth Group One victory when defending her title with a dominant performance in the Telegraph (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 16 January at Trentham. She looked good in an exhibition gallop here on 3 February, with Bosson aboard, and despite drawing wide (11) she is the benchmark in the weight-for-age $200,000 BCD Group Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m). Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.15.

3.40 p.m. R7 1 Amarelinha (3 f Savabeel - Hopscotch) - Danielle Johnson; impressed winning the Eight Carat Classic (Group 2, 1600m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, running a slick last 600m (33.7), and beaten a head by 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Aegon (Sacred Falls) in a tremendous finish to the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) from a wide gate. Perfectly drawn (1), she has all the credentials to prove tough in the $100,000 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m). Fixed odds: $1.80 & $1.20.

4.15 p.m. R8 9 Melody Belle (6 m Commands - Meleka Belle) - Opie Bosson; proved too classy when resuming with victory in the Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 30 January at Trentham - a great training performance by Jamie Richards. Dual NZ Horse of the Year, winner of 13 Group One races, improved by her latest outing, she receives a chance to surpass Sunline (Desert Sun) as winner of the most Group One races by a NZ trained horse when contesting the weight-for-age $400,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). Fixed odds: $1.45 & $1.10.

Flemington:

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

6.05 p.m. (NZ time) R7 6 Brando (3 c Savabeel - Saoirse) - Jye McNeil; sprinted clear to win untouched in the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie - one of six wins in a record-breaking day for the trainer - and just missed with a big finish for second in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 16 January at Trentham. Winner of three from five, and two seconds, he has the credentials to race well in the $160,000 C S Hayes Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m). NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25.

Randwick:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 6 metres. 25mls rain forecast Saturday.

7.40 p.m. (NZ time) R8 2 Kahma Lass (3 f Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass) - Kerrin McEvoy; unleashed a big finish to win convincingly in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 14 November at Riccarton - on a day Jamie Richards trained six winners. She trialled strongly for second to subsequent Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) winning stable-mate Probabeel (Savabeel), who took the race out last Saturday at Caulfield, when the pair stepped out on 12 January at Matamata. The winner of two from four, and two seconds, she resumes from barrier two in the $200,000 TAB Light Fingers Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m). NZ TAB fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20.