Te Akau Trans-Tasman ANZAC Day Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Friday 25 April at Awapuni, Palmerston North, and two horses entered at Flemington, Melbourne.

Awapuni:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 6 metres. No rain forecast. 

2:47 p.m. R4 1 Puzzle Master (3 g Rubick – One Mansini) – George Rooke; he was easy from barrier one, settled back on the inner, and held his spot while running home nicely near the markers in a trial on 3 April at Ellerslie. Resuming in the $17,000 3YO 1200 metres, he has recorded a win and has been twice second from just four starts, and has the ability to prove competitive despite having to overcome the outside barrier (11). Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.40. 

3:53 p.m. R6 13 Francee (5 m Iffraaj – Calveen) – Joe Doyle; she sustained a strong finish to win the Pearl Series Final Rating 72 Fillies & Mares 1400m on 8 March on Champions’ Day and emulated that effort for a close third in the Rating 75 1500 metres on 5 April, both at Ellerslie. Contesting the $80,000 Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac Mile, she steps up in class but is racing in fine fettle. She has the advantage of carrying the minimum weight (53kg), and is more than capable of a top four result. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.00.

4:53 p.m. R8 1 Moon Rocket (4 g Merchant Navy – Moonlover) – George Rooke; he fought hard for a close third on Heavy10 footing in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 19 March and was then fifth on Soft5  going in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 4 April, both at Waverley. Contesting the $17,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, he is perfectly drawn (4) to have first four prospects. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.00.  

Flemington:

Weather: cloudy, track: Good4, rail: true. 16mls rain forecast Friday. 

3:45 p.m. (NZ) ~ 1:45 p.m. (Vic) R2 12 Esternay (3 f All Too Hard – Sezanne) – Blake Shinn; she recorded a huge second-up victory in the Maiden 1400 metres on 28 March at Cranbourne and since then, was eye-catching in a jump out there on 14 April. Contesting the A$65,000 Rating 70 1400 metres, she hails from the family of Champion mare Champagne (Zabeel), has looked talented in her three starts to date, and shapes to prove competitive as she takes the step up in grade. NZ TAB fixed odds: $19.00 & $5.50.

5:55 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:55 p.m. (Vic) R6 5 West Indies (3 g Fastnet Rock – Anchovy, by Galileo) – Blake Shinn; he came from last with a sustained run for a close third in the Benchmark 64 2025 metres on 4 April at Cranbourne, and ran home well in jump out there on 14 April. He steps up in distance for the A$200,000 Listed VRC St Leger (2800m), having spelled following the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) here in November. A promising staying horse, he is ideally drawn (5) and has the services of the NZB Kiwi and Karaka Millions 3YO winning rider, Victoria’s Champion Jockey Blake Shinn. NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.15.