Te Akau Trans Tasman Boxing Day Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on Boxing Day (26 December): Ellerslie, Otaki, and Wingatui in New Zealand, and one horse entered at Sandown, Melbourne.?

Ellerslie:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. Rain forecast after 1:00 p.m. 

3:08 p.m. R5 2 Dream Of The Moon (4 m All Too Hard – Moonchild) – Opie Bosson; she settled last, nine lengths off the leaders at the 600m and while she remained back, she was doing best work through the line in a trial on 19 December at Matamata. Resuming in the $80,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, she proved to be up to the best three-year-olds last season, and included an impressive victory in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) in her season’s record.  Stakes’ placed three times from 1100m – 1400m, she is ideally drawn (1) to race well first-up. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.50.

3:43 p.m. R6 3 He Who Dares (3 c Snitzel – Rondinella) – Opie Bosson; he fought well for fifth after leading in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) on 15 November at Riccarton, was freshened, and then remained pocketed behind the leaders in the straight to finish fourth when trialling on 19 December at Matamata. Resuming in the $270,000 Group 2 Jimmy Schick Shaw’s Auckland Guineas over 1400m, he brings a very good record against the best of age at two and three, he likes this course, and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $1.45.

4:18 p.m. R7 10 Stella Ma Bella (3 f Contributer – Bella Carolina) – Craig Grylls; she fought hard for third when debuting in the Maiden 1230 metres on 16 November at Rotorua, and impressively won the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 7 December at Te Aroha. Stepping up in the $270,000 Hallmark Stud Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), she continues her association with the country’s leading jockey,. The side winkers are on this sister to Te Akau purchased and trained Group One winner and million-dollar earner Campionessa, she should appreciate the increase in distance and looks a genuine top three chance from barrier five, a talented filly with a bright future. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.25. 

5:28 p.m. R9 9 Qali Al Farrasha (5 m Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Opie Bosson; she extended clear to win the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) on 22 November at Pukekohe with consummate ease, and fought well for fourth in the Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) on 13 December at Te Rapa last start. Contesting the $500,000 Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic over 2000m, she is a quadruple Group One placed mare, possesses a very good course/distance record, and has first four claims from barrier three in a high quality field. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $3.10. ?

Otaki:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 3 metres. 10mls rain forecast.

12:57 p.m. R2 14 Perlino (3 f Super Seth – Palomino) – Bruno Queiroz; she got back last, some eight lengths off the leaders at the 600m, and made ground for seventh when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 7 December at Te Aroha. Contesting the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres, she was a trial winner before racing, and is perfectly drawn to further improve if appreciative of the give in ground. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.65.

4:32 p.m. R8 9 Kabugee (6 g Satono Aladdin – Kabuki) – Amber Riddell (a1); he remained rearward when resuming in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 6 December at Pukekohe, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. He has recorded five wins to 1400 metres, and handles give in ground - his dam won on the course, and he will be looking to bounce back from barrier six. Fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.00.?

Wingatui:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. 6mls forecast on 25th and 3mls on 26th. 

2:58 p.m. R5 6 I’m A Dirty Rascal (8 g Galileo – Remember When, by Danehill Dancer) – Triston Moodley (a1); he ran on well for sixth after getting back to last in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) on 15 November at Riccarton, has been time given time (41 days) to get over that, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 2200 metres. He has displayed true staying qualities to win over 3000 metres prior to that and appears in the right form to prove competitive from barrier two. Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.65.

2:58 p.m. R5 7 Elegant Lady (6 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Courtney Barnes; she ran home well for second in the Rating 80 Benchmark 2100 metres on 5 December at Riccarton (poly-track), and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 2200 metres. With four wins to 2200 metres under her belt, this Te Akau home-bred mare is twice stakes’ placed to 2400m, has a very good course/distance record, and is a top four contender on her current form. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.35.

3:30 p.m. R6 1 Cool Aza Rene (3 f Cool Aza Beel – Irene) – Triston Moodley (a); she was claimed at the 200m after leading in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) on 8 November at Riccarton, and quickened well for a close third in a trial on 9 December at Timaru. One of two stablemates contesting the $100,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m), she is the winner of five of her nine starts to 1400 metres, including here on course. She brings a good mix of talent and tenacity, and looks a definite top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.35.

3:30 p.m. R6 4 Marokopa Falls (3 f Hellbent – Beside You) – Courtney Barnes; she fought hard off a three-wide trip for third in the Listed The O’Learys Fillies Classic (1340m) on 29 November at Wanganui, and also contests the NZB Airfreight Stakes. She debuted with an excellent victory and finished fourth to stable-mate La Dorada in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) last season. Having recently arrived at our southern base, she brings the right form to prove competitive if she can secured a decent trip from  her sticky gate draw (9). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.60.

4:05 p.m. R7 6 High Roller (4 g Ace High – Miss Thorn) – Courtney Barnes; he lengthened stride significantly once clear to snatch victory in the Maiden 1600 metres 5 December at Riccarton (poly-track), and contests the $50,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. The win confirmed his long-known ability, and while he steps up in grade, he is ideally drawn (3) to measure up. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.90.

4:40 p.m. R8 12 Cognoscenti (4 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Triston Moodley (a1); he drew out after leading for a stylish victory in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 5 December at Riccarton (poly-track), and contests the $50,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. He meets much stronger field, but brings winning form and the opportunity to prove competitive if he finds a way around the wide alley (10). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.20.

Sandown:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast. 

5:40 p.m. (NZ) - 3:40 p.m. (Vic) R5 2 Stage ‘n’ Screen (4 m Ace High – Inthespotlight) – Logan Bates (a2); she did very well to finish second after racing wide in the Benchmark 66 1400 metres on 5 December at Cranbourne, and contests the A$65,000 Benchmark 66 1400 metres. A dual winner over 1200 metres, she has been competitive in strong fields, enjoys weight relief to 59.5kg, and is ideally drawn (5) to deliver a top four finish. NZ TAB fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.65.