Te Akau Trans Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Friday 2 January: Tauranga and Tauherenikau in New Zealand, and one horse in Terang, Victoria.?

Tauranga:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 6.5 metres 1000m to 400m, remainder out 5 metres. Showers forecast. 

1:57 p.m. R3 6 Bellish Boy (3 g Embellish – Stylish Achiever) – Craig Grylls; he was posted three-wide near the pace before understandably yielding over the concluding stages when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 12 December, and contests the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. He found a very good kick to win comfortably at the trials on 14 November at Avondale, prior to racing. He appears capable of improvement but he really needs a lot to go his way from his awkward draw (9). Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.75.  

2:32 p.m. R4 12 Uptown (3 f Savabeel – Urban) – Vinnie Colgan; she was allowed to find her feet beyond midfield, five lengths off the leaders at the 600m, was unfortunately denied a gap at the 250m, but ran home well once clear to claim third in a trial on 9 December at Pukekohe. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres, by nine-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), her dam won over 1200 metres, leaving four winners of 14 races. She has posted solid performances through her trials’ stage and she ideally drawn (2) to race well first-up. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.10. 

3:07 p.m. R5 17 Cease And Desist (3 g Zoustar – No Evidence Needed) – Opie Bosson; he remained midfield when resuming in the Maiden 1150 metres on 7 December at Te Aroha, won by stable-mate and subsequent dual winner Drops Of God (Hello Youmzain), and contests the $18,500 Maiden 1400 metres. He won a trial in an encouraging manner leading in to this, and receives a good opportunity to improve stepping up in distance, if he handles the going. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.10. 

4:17 p.m. R7 18 Quenza (3 f Almanzor – Bavella) – Joe Doyle; she was posted three-wide from an outside gate, improved to challenge at the 400m, and sustained a strong finish for second in a trial on 25 November at Taupo, before having an exhibition gallop with Champion Two-Year-Old stable-mate La Dorada on 8 December at Te Aroha. Another debutante, she steps out in the $18,500 Maiden 1200 metres, is well bred being out of Listed Counties 2YO Stakes (1100m) winner Bavella (Snitzel), and shapes to race well first-up. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.00. 

4:49 p.m. R8 5 Charmrose (5 m Charm Spirit – Sovereign Rose) – Opie Bosson; she recorded back-to-back wins, including one here at Tauranga, before racing on a genuine pace and fighting well for a close fifth in the Rating 75 1100 metres on 29 November at Ellerslie. She’s a tough campaigner that has been given time since (34 days), and contests the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres. She’s notched up three wins to 1200 metres, is a previous winner in this grade, and is the type that puts herself into the race - she brings top three credentials. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00. 

Tauherenikau:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

1:10 p.m. R1 7 Paper Moon (3 f Savabeel – Kansas) – Kelly Myers; she drew out for a smart win in a trial on 14 November at Avondale, and finished strongly for fourth from back in the field when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1000 metres on 14 December at Trentham. Contesting the $18,500 Maiden 1000 metres, she looks a realistic top three chance if the senior rider can navigate the sticky gate (9). Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.45.

3:25 p.m. R5 9 Aishiteru (3 f Satono Aladdin – Cuddles For Layla) – Bruno Queiroz; she steadied to settle beyond midfield, tracked up three-wide with cover inside the 800m, was pushed wide into the straight and displayed some greenness running home in a trial on 9 December at Pukekohe. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 1600 metres, she has generally remained back over sprint distances through her trials’ stage, but this is a good opportunity for her to produce an encouraging performance first-up over a mile and kick start her racing career. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.00.

5:10 p.m. R8 1 Cool ‘N’ Fast (4 g Savabeel – Cool ‘N’ Sassy) – Kelly Myers; he did well to keep closing in the straight following a wide trip in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 19 December at Matamata, and contests the $18,500 Rating 65 1300 metres. He was impressive winning as a two-year-old, and has produced some good efforts since resuming off a lengthy break. He’s ideally drawn (5) and should be very competitive in this line up.  Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.35. 

Terang:

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

6:30 p.m. (NZ) - 4:30 p.m. R8 1 West Indies (4 g Fastnet Rock – Anchovy, by Galileo) – Sage Duric (a3); he finished eighth after racing handily when resuming in the Benchmark 64 1600 metres on 12 December at Cranbourne, also with Duric aboard, and contests the A$22,000 Benchmark 56 1850 metres. He drops in grade here, has the benefit of weight relief to 62kg, and this looks a good opportunity for him to show the required improvement second-up. NZ TAB fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.60.  

Main picture - Charmrose