Te Akau Trans Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Friday 20 February at Ashburton, New Zealand and four horses entered at Terang and Cranbourne (Victoria).  

Ashburton:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: true. No rain forecast Thursday and 2mls rain Friday.  

1:37 p.m. R4 4 Cool Aza Rene (3 f Cool Aza Beel – Irene) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she received an economical trip from barrier one and finished strongly for a close third in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) on 26 December at Wingatui. Contesting the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres, she has won five of 10 starts to 1400 metres, including the Group 3 Barneswood Stakes over 1400m here. She is a  highly competitive filly, has the plus of weight relief to 54.5kg, and appears a genuine top three chance - one of two lining up in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.55.

1:37 p.m. R4 7 Marokopa Falls (3 f Hellbent – Beside You) – Bruno Queiroz; she raced wide but with cover back in the field and then was cast widest into the straight when finishing seventh in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes on 26 December at Wingatui. Also contesting the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres, she is handily drawn (5), and does have the ability to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.95.

2:12 p.m. R5 3 Malmaison (5 g Darci Brahma – Altai Rose) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he secured a good passage down on the inside when finishing a close third in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 4 February at Riccarton, won by stable-mate Insatiable (All Too Hard), and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. He is a really consistent galloper who won four times to 1200 metres in his last campaign, has the apprentice weight relief to 58kg, and rates a top three contender from the handy barrier three. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.60.

2:45 p.m. R6 1 High Roller (4 g Ace High – Miss Thorn) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he raced well too finish second on Heavy8 footing in the Rating 65 1800 metres on 24 January at Riccarton, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 2200 metres. He is now beginning to realise the earlier potential he showed as he learns from experience, he has weight relief to 57kg, and he is more than capable of finishing in the top three if he handles the step up in distance.  Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.90.

4:40 p.m. R9 2 Cool ‘N’ Fast (4 g Savabeel – Cool ‘N’ Sassy) – Hayley Hassman (a2); the first of two in the race for the stable, he ran the fastest last 600m (35.6) for fourth on a Heavy8 track, coming from beyond midfield in the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres on 24 January at Riccarton. Contesting the corresponding event, he was impressive when winning as a two-year-old, and has produced some good efforts since resuming off a lengthy break. His weight drops to 57.5kg, and he can deliver a top four finish from his handy gate (2). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.25.

4:40 p.m. R9 10 Celtic Bling (4 m Embellish – Niamh Elizabeth) – Bruno Queiroz; she ran the fastest last 600m (34.3) for third after getting back from a wide draw (12) when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 4 February at Riccarton, also with Queiroz aboard, and likewise contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. A te Akau Stud homebred mare, she was a maiden winner over 1400 metres, is a very genuine performer, and also brings first four credentials. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.35. 

Terang:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres 1000m to winning post, remainder true. No rain forecast. 

5:50 p.m. R6 13 (NZ) - 3:50 p.m. R3 5 Sheanadh (3 f Night Of Thunder – Disbelieve) – Jett Stanley; she was outpaced in a better class race when contesting the Benchmark 64 3YO Fillies 1200 metres on 30 January at Cranbourne, and contests the $27,000 Benchmark 62 3YO 1406 metres. She however recorded a very strong debut win over 1200 metres, gives every indiction she will be suited to stepping up to 1400 metres, and ideally drawn (2) to make her presence felt.

Cranbourne:

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

9:15 p.m. (NZ) - 7:15 p.m. (Vic) R3 4 Flash Of Class (2 f Capitalist – Flashing Speed) – Craig Williams; she began brilliantly to lead and sustained a strong gallop for second in a jump out on 9 February at Cranbourne, also with Williams aboard. Resuming in the A$40,000 2YO 1000 metres, she contested the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) on debut in October, is held in good regard by the team, and shapes to prove competitive first-up as the market also recognises.  NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.55.

10:15 p.m. (NZ) - 8:15 p.m. (Vic) R5 7 Titahi Bay (3 f Spirit Of Boom – Aotearower) – Craig Williams; she began well from barrier one to co-lead and sustained a strong gallop to win a jump out on 9 February at Cranbourne, also with Williams aboard, and resumes in the $40,000 Benchmark 64 3YO 1000 metres. She notched up two thirds from three starts prior to a stylish Maiden win over 1430 metres in November, was course/distance placed on debut as two-year-old, and in this small field, she presents as a top three prospect. NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.25.

10:45 p.m. (NZ) - 8:45 p.m. (Vic) R6 1 Stage ‘n’ Screen (4 m Ace High – Inthespotlight) – Jackson Radley (a2); she secured a nice trip settling in fifth position and ran on solidly for third in the Benchmark 70 1400 metres on 23 January at Pakenham, with Radley aboard on that occasion too. She then hit the line strongly in a quiet jump out on 16 February at Cranbourne, and lines up in the A$40,000 Benchmark 70 1600 metres. The apprentice engagement dropped her to 60kg, she was runner up over 1400m at her only course attempt, and she is more than capable of being right in the thick of this if she has some luck from her outside gate (8). NZ TAB fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.30. 

Main picture - Stage 'N' Screen winning