Te Akau Trans-Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Friday 12 December at Tauranga, New Zealand, and three horses entered at Geelong and Cranbourne, Victoria.

Tauranga:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 5 metres. No rain forecast.  

3:05 p.m. R2 6 Tagalomu (3 g Tagaloa – Sentimental Miss) – Opie Bosson; he travelled in fifth position, pushed up rounding the home turn, and sustained a big run down outside to win a trial on 14 November at Avondale. Debuting in the $25,000 Maiden 1500 metres, he is from the first crop by Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa (JPN)), out of the Group 1 NZ Oaks (2400m) and Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) winner Sentimental Miss (Reliable Man). His trial win was solid and he appears capable of good first-up effort but does have a tricky draw to overcome (10). Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.45.

4:52 p.m. R5 4 Bellish Boy (3 g Embellish – Stylish Achiever) – Craig Grylls; he was caught wide in the early rush, landed mid line of three at the 600m, and found a very good kick to comfortably win at the trials on 14 November at Avondale. Debuting in the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres, he is by Te Akau purchased and trained Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas winning sire Embellish (Savabeel), and his dam Stylish Achiever (Fastnet Rock) won over 1200 metres. He is another showing promise, but he too requires luck from the awkward draw (10). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.25.

6:10 p.m. R7 1 Top Shelf (4 m Savabeel – Saoirse) – Hayley Hassman (a3); she has placed in all three starts since resuming including two here, and most recently in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 15 November, won by subsequent winner Crackercol (Proisir). Contesting the $25,000 Rating 65 1500 metres, she has been a previous course winner over 1600 metres, is stakes’ placed, has the benefit of weight relief to 58.5kg, and is a genuine top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.60. 

Geelong:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 7 metres 800m – 400m, remainder out 5 metres. No rain forecast.

4:55 p.m. (NZ) - 2:55 p.m. (Vic) R5 10 Tower Bridge (3 c I Am Invincible – Palace Talk) – Lachlan Neindorf; he raced behind the leaders in compact bunch when finishing fourth on debut in the Maiden 1000 metres on 12 November at Caulfield. Contesting the A$45,000 Maiden 1230 metres, he won a trial by two lengths before racing, is by the reigning Australian Champion Sire, and from barrier six, should race positively, the jockey already winning for the stable earlier this week.

5:30 p.m. (NZ) - 3:30 p.m. (Vic) R8 9 Sky Sista (4 m Overshare – Woogie) – Liam Riordan; she was swamped late after co-leading in the Benchmark 62 1300 metres on 18 October at Bendigo, and then finished fourth when racing on pace in a jump out on 17 November at Cranbourne. Contesting the A$40,000 Benchmark 62 1430 metres, she was a winner over 1300 metres in May, and has a gate (1) she can use to advantage for an economical trip. 

Cranbourne:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 6 metres. No rain forecast.

11:45 p.m. (NZ) - 9:45 p.m. (Vic) R8 2 West Indies (4 g Fastnet Rock – Anchovy, by Galileo) – Sage Duric (a3); he finished sixth in 1200-metre jump out here on 1 December, and resumes in the A$40,000 Benchmark 64 1600 metres. He won well over 2200 metres in July, then was spelled following a fourth placing where he was up in grade over a similar distance. The apprentice engagement provides weight relief to 59kg, and he is perfectly drawn (3) to resume with an encouraging performance before stepping up in trip. NZ TAB fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.00. 

Main picture - Top Shelf winning