Te Akau Trans Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has one horse entered on Friday 27 February at Hawera, New Zealand, and two horses entered at Cranbourne, Victoria.

Hawera:  

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: true. 5mls rain forecast Friday.

2:05 p.m. R1 8 She Suits Herself (3 f Savile Row – Sleepy Girl) – Craig Grylls; a Te Akau homebred, she appreciated the increased distance and Heavy10 footing when finishing a close second in the Listed Oaks Prelude over 1800m on 24 January at New Plymouth, and followed that up with a brave run for fourth on Soft5 in the Maiden 2100 metres on 5 February at Tauranga. Contesting the $25,000 Maiden 2100 metres, she looks a genuine top three chance from barrier one, if she doesn’t mind the better going.  Fixed odds: $1.65 & $1.10. 

Cranbourne:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: true. 30mls rain forecast Friday.

9:45 p.m. (NZ) - 7:45 p.m. (Vic) R4 3 Lyrics ‘N’ Song (3 f Written Tycoon – Melody Belle) – Logan Bates (a2); she easily won the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 31 October at Cranbourne, and was freshened after a solid run for third in the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) on 29 November at Caulfield. She had her ears pricked when winning a jump out here on 9 February, and resumes in the A$60,000 Benchmark 64 3YO 1200 metres. The first foal of our 14-time Group 1 winning Champion mare Melody Belle, she has been very good in all three starts, has weight relief to 57kg, and from barrier four will be right in this finish. TAB fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.90.

10:45 p.m. (NZ) - 8:45 p.m. (Vic) R8 2 Stage ‘n’ Screen (4 m Ace High – Inthespotlight) – Logan Bates (a2); she closed strongly for third off a wide trip in the Benchmark 70 1600 metres here on 20 February, and contests the A$60,000 Benchmark 70 Fillies & Mares 2025 metres. She brings a solid course record to this race, and enjoys weight relief to 60kg. She’s been racing consistently well, and  gives every indication the next win is close.  NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.40.

Main picture - Stage 'N' Screen winning in Melbourne