Te Akau Trans Tasman Black Type Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 13 horses entered on Saturday 26 April: Te Rapa and Riccarton, New Zealand; one horse entered at Moonee Valley, Melbourne, and one horse entered at Morphetville, South Australia.

Te Rapa:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 3 metres. 15mls rain forecast Saturday. 

12:48 p.m. R2 16 Wish Come True (3 f Savabeel – Grand Wish) – Matt Cartwright; she was a stride slow away when trialling at Ellerslie on 1 April. Urged to keep in touch, she was six lengths off the leaders at the 600m, and remained in a similar spot. Debuting in the $20,000 Maiden 2YO & Up 1600 metres, she is a half-sister to well-performed stable-mate What You Wish For (Embellish), a stakes’ winner among his four victories to 2000 metres, and she looks like stepping out over the mile will suit her. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.20. 

1:21 p.m. R3 4 Altari (3 g Savabeel – Bohemian Lily) – Vinnie Colgan; he fought hard for fifth after being posted three-wide throughout in the 3YO 1500 metres on 5 April at Ellerslie. Contesting the $35,000 3YO 1600 metres, he is a promising individual that finished second at his only previous course attempt, and he’s more than capable of delivering a top four result. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30. 

1:55 p.m. R4 10 Dujardin (2 f Hello Youmzain – Equestrienne) – unfixed/also nominated Wanganui; she finished fourth from a handy position when resuming in the 2YO 1300 metres on 12 April at Trentham, and contests the $35,000 2YO 1200 metres. She was eye-catching when making up plenty of ground for fourth here on debut, and hails from a gifted family, but her draw (13) makes this a tough task should she race here. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50. 

2:27 p.m. R5 6 Stonybreck (5 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Craig Grylls; he wound up late off a trail run for a close sixth when resuming in the $40,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres here on 13 April, won by race rival Karman Line, and contests the corresponding event. He’s notched up a good winning record of seven races (970m – 1550m), and rates a top four chance from the handy barrier four. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.50. 

3:02 p.m. R6 11 Celestial Wonder (3 f Xtravagant – Meteoric Lass) – Craig Grylls; she did a good job working in front before being just claimed on line (half-head) when resuming in the 3YO 1200 metres here on 13 April, and contests the $100,000 Group 3 Windsor Park Stud Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes over 1200m. She’s compiling a smart record, with a win and three seconds from her only four starts, including second placing in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes. She faces a very competitive line-up but has to be in calculations from barrier six, in a race that always attracts a smart field. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

3:37 p.m. R7 8 Bella Voce (4 m Fastnet Rock – Keep On Singing) – Craig Grylls; she closed the margin from last when resuming in the $35,000 Rating 75 1200 metres here on 13 April, and contests the corresponding event. She concluded her previous campaign with consecutive victories over 1200 metres, and while she does have the ability to improve second-up, she has copped a nightmare alley (14).  Fixed odds: 21.00 & $5.50.

4:12 p.m. R8 2 Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay) – George Rooke; she recorded a brilliant victory in the Listed Hawkes Bay Cup (2200m) on 12 April at Trentham, and contests the $150,000  Group 2 Travis Stakes over 2000m. She is a Group 3 and dual Listed winner, is Group 1 placed, and has notched up six wins from 2000m - 3200m in her career. She brings winning form and is ideally drawn (1) to rate a top three chance if appreciative of this course at her first attempt. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05.   

Riccarton:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy10, rail: out 5 metres to 1000 metres, remainder out 8 metres. No rain forecast.

1:06 p.m. R3 2 Kabugee (5 g Satono Aladdin – Kabuki) – Courtney Barnes; he weaved through from beyond midfield for a close fifth in the Rating 75 1400 metres here on 12 April, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. He has developed a good record of five wins to 1400 metres, including on soft and heavy going, is in good form and  can be a threat here from the ace draw. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95.

1:45 p.m. R4 3 Can’t Kach Me (5 m Tavistock – Kachina) – Courtney Barnes; she ran home near the rail from a rearward position when resuming in the Rating 75 1400 metres here on 12 April, and drops in grade for the $35,000 Rating 65 1800 metres. She has been a winner on soft and heavy tracks up to 2200 metres, sports a good course record, and finds the opportunity from barrier one to improve her form as a top four chance. $10.00 & $3.20. 

3:25 p.m. R7 1 Dream Of The Moon (3 f All Too Hard – Moonchild) – Courtney Barnes; she toyed with her opposition when impressively winning the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes over 1600m here on 12 April, and is one fo two stablemates contesting the $80,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes over 2000m. She was up to the best of her age group in stakes’ races earlier this season, has returned to form, has won on Heavy8 going, and this race is certainly in her grasp if she handles the 2000m and the track conditions.  Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.65.  

3:52 p.m. R8 7 Donna Chiara (3 f Belardo – Bellabaci) – Rohan Mudhoo; she was cleverly ridden from the outside gate (18) when finishing third to Dream Of The Moon (above) in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes last start and also contests the $80,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes. She has performed best on better footing, but the progeny of her sire has proven adept on heavy footing over 2000 metres, and she does have the advantage this time of a handy gate (2). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.10. 

4:34 p.m. R9 7 Knowledge Is Power (3 g Written Tycoon – Hectopascal) – Courtney Barnes; he pulled away to easily win a trial here on 24 March, and ran a slashing time of 1:08.8 when resuming with victory in the Rating 65 1200 metres on this track on 12 April. Contesting the $35,000 Rating 75 1000 metres, he is likely to race in or near the lead, and he brings the right form to prove competitive despite stepping up in grade - the first of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.60.

4:34 p.m. R9 9 Bello Mio (5 g Deep Field – Bella Francesca) – Hayley Hassman (a4); he finished back after being denied room near the rail in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 16 March at Wingatui, and likewise contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1000 metres. He has been a winner over 1050 metres on Heavy10 footing, has a big benefit of weight relief to 51.5kg, and brings the right stats to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $17.00 & $4.80. 

Moonee Valley:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 4 metres. 18mls rain forecast Friday and 8mls Saturday.

5.55 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:55 p.m. (Vic) R7 7 Stage ‘n’ Screen (3 f Ace High – Inthespotlight) – Luke Cartwright (a3); she finished a close third when resuming in the Benchmark 64 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres here on 7 March, and was then sixth after being given no respite near the lead in the Benchmark 64 3YO Fillies 1400 metres on 26 March at Sandown. Contesting the A$150,000 Revert Group Handicap 1200 metres, she has a featherweight 51kg to carry, and is nicely drawn (4) to race well. NZ TAB fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.90.

Morphettville:

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

3:12 p.m. (NZ) ~ 12:42 p.m. (SA) R3 3 Sans Doute (5 m Not A Single Doubt – My Prerogative) – Blake Shinn; she closed strongly from last and was unlucky to finish fifth when attempting to defend her title in the Listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Stakes over 1000m on 29 March at Flemington, and was then held together nicely for a close fourth in a jump out (trial) on 14 April at Cranbourne. Again contesting the $150,000 Group 3 Sportsbet John Hawkes Stakes over 1100m, she has unfinished business in this race, having darted late for a very close second in event last year. She appears in the right fettle to rate a top four chance with decent trip from barrier eight, and she has the man aboard to deliver that. NZ TAB fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.35.