Te Akau Trans Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 17 horses entered on Friday 10 October at Taupo, New Zealand, and three horses  entered at Cranbourne, Victoria.

Taupo: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: out 2 metres. No rain forecast. 

12:20 p.m. R2 7 Hostility (3 c I Am Invincible – Shillelagh) – Craig Grylls; he found line the belatedly from beyond midfield when resuming in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) on 6 September at Ellerslie, and drops in class for the $18,500 Maiden 1200 metres. He followed his debut second with strong performance to be runner up in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m earlier this year, won by stable-mate La Dorada (Super Seth). He has unfortunately drawn wide (11) but has undoubted ability, and warrants favouritism. Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.25.

12:20 p.m. R2 16 Belle Cheval (3 f Savabeel – Keepa Cheval) – unfixed; she was steadied back from a wider gate, being about five lengths off the leaders at the 600m. She travelled widest into the home straight, and made up plenty of ground for a close fifth in a trial on 11 September at Avondale. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 1200 metres, she is a half-sister to triple Group One winner Bostonian (Jimmy Choux) and has the inherent ability to act fresh. While she has drawn barrier six, she sits two on the ballot. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.

Belle Cheval is also nominated for race 3: drawn barrier 18 and ballot two. 

1:00 p.m. R3 1 High Roller (4 g Ace High – Miss Thorn) – Wiremu Pinn; he settled beyond midfield and, when well positioned, frustratingly met a significant check at the 200m when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 20 September at Ellerslie. Contesting the $18,500 Maiden 1200 metres, he was narrowly beaten when debuting over 1300 metres last season, the blinkers are on, and this is a good opportunity for him to improve from the handy gate (3). Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.60.

1:40 p.m. R4 2 King’s English (3 c Snitzel – English) – Bruno Queiroz; he worked to get handy and ran on well for third when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 17 September. Contesting the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres, he trialled well before racing, and boasts a blue blood pedigree, by a Champion Sire out of an elite winning mare in English. The blinkers are on and he should be very competitive in this field. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.70.

2:20 p.m. R5 13 Shania (3 f Super Seth – Tegwin) – Bruno Queiroz; she began well to settle handily, shot clear in the straight, and ran home strongly to hold her spot in second when trialling on 11 September at Avondale. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres, she is by Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth (Dundeel), who is already represented by four Group 1 winners, with her dam being the talented race winner Tegwin (O’Reilly). While her breeding suggests she is destined for further, she’s more than capable of a bold effort fresh-up over the sprint trip. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.45.

2:55 p.m. R6 8 Presence Of Mind (3 f Fastnet Rock – Supreme Mind) – Craig Grylls; she ran home fine on heavy ground not really to her liking when fifth in a trial on 23 September at Te Rapa, and resumes in the $18,500 Maiden 1000 metres. She won a trial before her debut second in her sole start as two-year-old, sports a terrific pedigree, and looks a top three chance - one of two fillies in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.75. 

2:55 p.m. R6 12 Sibling Rivalry (3 f Satono Aladdin – Justlikeyasister) – Wiremu Pinn; she began well to travel in fourth, quickened to level mid-straight, and ran home strongly for third in a trial on 9 September at Ellerslie, also with Pinn aboard. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 1000 metres, she looked good winning two prior trials and, like her stablemate, is a top three prospect if she can secure a decent trip from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30.

3:35 p.m. R7 2 Wild Night (6 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Sam McNab (a3); he has trialled and had three exhibition gallops in preparation to resume in the $25,000 Open Handicap 1300 metres - however weather and postponements have held up his return somewhat - and sees the stable also represented by five runners in this event. His stellar career to date has delivered eight wins including at Group Two and Listed level and he has trialled well here previously. He resumed with back-to-back wins last season and has weight relief to 57kg with the apprentice aboard. While he is more than capable of a bold resumption he needs a ton of luck from his wide draw (14). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.90.

3:35 p.m. R7 5 What You Wish For (5 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Vinnie Colgan; the second starter for the stable, he went forward in line of three on the pace, stretched to lead at the 700m, quickened mid-straight, and maintained a really solid effort for third when trialling on 9 September at Ellerslie. Also resuming in the Open Handicap 1300m, he kicked off last season with an impressive course/distance win, and later won the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m). He loves this track, is versatile, and certainly has the ability to perform well in a fresh state. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.20.

3:35 p.m. R7 7 Talisker (5 g Embellish – Glenkinchie) – Craig Grylls; he was caught wide in midfield from an outside gate, improved to third nearing the home turn, and remained held together finishing fourth when trialling on 9 September at Ellerslie. He too resumes in the Open Handicap 1300m, and is the winner of four races who has been three times Group placed to 1600 metres. He is a very genuine performer, the blinkers go on, but he’s another who has copped a nasty gate (15). Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70

3:35 p.m. R7 8 Captured By Love (4 m Written Tycoon – Moldova) – Wiremu Pinn; she found the line from back in the field for fifth when resuming in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 20 September at Ellerslie, and is the fourth stablemate contesting the Open Handicap 1300 metres. She was a trial winner on the course in August, recorded a classy Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) victory last season, is a high quality multiple Group winner, but (yes believe it or not) she too has drawn the wrath of the barrier gods (17). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05. 

3:35 p.m. R7 19 Trobriand (5 g Kermadec – Arboreal) – Bruno Queiroz; the last of the tangerine quintet, he remained in midfield when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 20 September at Ellerslie, and likewise contests the Open Handicap 1300 metres. He resumed with an emphatic course victory over 1200 metres last season, and won a trial here under a good hold in August. The Group 2 Eclipse Stakes’ (1200m) winner as a juvenile, he has placed three times at Group 3 level to 1600 metres, has been fourth in two Group 1 races, and is one who is ideally drawn (5) to show his best. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

4:10 p.m. R8 1 Cool ‘N’ Fast (4 g Savabeel – Cool ‘N’ Sassy) – Bruno Queiroz; he did very well following a lengthy spell to finish third when resuming in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 6 September at Ellerslie, and is one of four from the stable lining up in the $18,500 Rating 65 1100 metres. He impressed winning on debut as two-year-old, looked good winning a trial here before that fresh-up third, and appears ready for a top three finish. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.80.

4:10 p.m. R8 3 Knowledge Is Power (4 g Written Tycoon – Hectopascal) – Vinnie Colgan; he finished back after working wide near pace in the Rating 69 1300 metres on 10 September at Cambridge (poly-track), has been given time to freshen (30 days), and also lines up in the Rating 65 1100 metres. His two wins on turf have come over 1200 metres and we are hopeful he will show improvement, jumping from the handy barrier five. Fixed odds: $26.00 & $5.50.

4:10 p.m. R8 5 Carsolio (3 g Bivouac – Whitehaven) – Craig Grylls; the third in this race for the team, he finished well from a handy position for close second in the Rating 72 970 metres on 24 September at Cambridge (poly-track), and drops in grade for the Rating 65 1100 metres. He resumed with a sound win in the Maiden 1000 metres here on 17 August, put in a good effort last time, but he’s drawn awkwardly (13) which won’t aid his prospects.  Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.00.

4:10 p.m. R8 13 Marokopa Falls (3 f Hellbent – Beside You) – George Rooke; she settled back, travelled up well nearing home turn, and was not put under any pressure when running home nicely for fourth in a trial on 23 September at Te Rapa. Resuming in the Rating 65 1100 metres, she debuted with an excellent victory and then finished fourth to stable-mate La Dorada (Super Seth) in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes last season. She has trialled well on this course, and is ideally drawn (2) to be a top three chance first-up. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.80.

4:52 p.m. R9 1 I’m A Dirty Rascal (8 g Galileo – Remember When, by Danehill Dancer) – Bruno Queiroz; he found line from last when resuming in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 6 September at Ellerslie, and was similar again in the Rating 75 2100 metres on 27 September at Te Rapa. Contesting the $60,000 Rating 75 2600 metres, he has trialled well previously on this track, and has been a winner at 2500 metres. While he carries equal top weight (60.5kg) which his form suggests is tough, he appears capable of proving competitive. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70. 

Cranbourne:

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

9:15 p.m. (NZ) ~ 7:15 p.m. (Vic) R4 9 Future Frankie (3 f Frankel – Mirai E) – Luke Cartwright (a1); she got home well to win a 1400-metre jump out here on 29 September, also with Cartwright aboard, and debuts in the A$45,000 Maiden 1600 metres. Bred to stay, she is by the highest rated sire in the world in Frankel (Galileo), and is out of a mare by Champion Sire Deep Impact (Sunday Silence), a beautiful pedigree behind her, she will take good benefit from her first raceday experience. NZ TAB fixed odds: $11.00 & $2.60. 

10:45 p.m. (NZ) ~ 8:45 p.m. (Vic) R7 5 Geegees Gemstone (6 g Alpine Eagle – Gee Gees Top Notch) – Luke Currie; he finished second after travelling handily on the inner in a 1000-metre jump out here on 22 September, and is having his first start for stable in the A$100,000 Apache Cat Classic Handicap (1200m). Carrying 55.5kg, he is a very genuine performer who has won eight of 19 starts to 1200 metres, including the Listed Tasmanian Newmarket over 1200m. He is perfectly drawn (2) to play a prominent part in proceedings here.  NZ TAB fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.35.

11:15 p.m. (NZ) ~ 9:15 p.m. (Vic) R8 6 Jealous (5 m Nicconi – Jujube) – Luke Cartwright (a1); she closed well for sixth in her first start for stable when resuming in the Benchmark 66 1600 metres for Fillies & Mares on 24 September at Sandown, and contests the A$100,000 Pinker Pinker Plate (2025m) for Fillies & Mares. Carrying 55kg, her three career wins have been up to to 1800 metres, and she has drawn the pivotal gate, the ace. NZ TAB fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.50. 

Main picture: What You Wish For winning at Taupo this time last season