Te Akau Trans Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Friday 13 March at Pukekohe, New Zealand and one horse entered at Cranbourne, Victoria.

Pukekohe: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 4 metres. 6mls rain forecast Thursday and 5mls Friday.

12:32 p.m. R1 13 She Suits Herself (3 f Savile Row – Sleepy Girl) – Craig Grylls; she gained the advantage after sharing a competitive pace before just being claimed on the line in the $25,000 Maiden 2100 metres on 27 February at Hawera, also with Craig aboard.  Contesting the same grade/event, she also finished a very close second in the Listed Oaks Prelude over 1800m three starts ago, has continued to race well, and rates a top three chance, especially if the predicted rain arrives. Fixed odds: $2.90 & $1.45.

2:18 p.m. R4 7 Centurial (3 g Savabeel – Purcentage) – Craig Grylls; he was a clear last early, eight lengths off the leading division at the 600m, and closed strongly in the fastest last 600m (34.0) when debuting in the Maiden 1100 metres on 22 February at Taupo. He staged a big run for fourth in a trial on 10 February at Ellerslie prior to racing, and can deliver a top three finish if the champion jockey  navigates the tricky gate (10) in the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.90.

2:53 p.m. R5 5 Thumbelina (3 f Per Incanto – Matauri) – Opie Bosson; she settled last, and was about eight lengths off the leaders at the 600m point - and then staged a huge finish for third (fastest last 600m (33.0) on the day) in the Maiden 1100 metres here on 25 February, likewise Opie aboard. Contesting the $25,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses), she rates a top three chance with luck from outside draw (15). Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75.

2:53 p.m. R5 12 She Means Business (3 f Circus Maximus – Risque Business) – Craig Grylls; she was traveled boldly settling in fifth, was tracked to the outside in the straight and ran home well for fourth in a trial on 24 February at Tauranga. Debuting in the $25,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses), she hails from a talented family, being the half-sister to the Te Akau trained winner of six from 10 It’s Business Time (Turn Me Loose). It’s great to get her career underway and we expect an encouraging performance but she will require luck from her wide draw (13). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.

4:04 p.m. R7 5 Bellish Boy (3 g Embellish – Stylish Achiever) – Opie Bosson; he fought hard after leading for third in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 28 January at Waverley, and emulated the effort when second in the Maiden 1400 metres on 22 February at Taupo. Contesting the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres, he brings right form and has been close in his starts date, plus he is ideally drawn (4) to claim a serious part of the finish. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

4:41 p.m. R8 12 Zambrosia (3 f Zoustar – Positive Problems) – Craig Grylls; she settled three back on the inner and ran home strongly for third in the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres here on 25 February. Contesting the corresponding event, she’s a filly who has required patient handling and she is trending the right way in three starts - she’s another however who had copped a difficult gate (13) so will need a big dose of luck from there, but the right man is aboard.  Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.75. 

Cranbourne:

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

8:15 p.m. (NZ) - 6:15 p.m. (Vic) R1 6 Titahi Bay (3 f Spirit Of Boom – Aotearower) – Daniel Stackhouse; she only yielded late after sharing a very competitive pace when resuming in the Benchmark 64 3YO 1000 metres here on 20 February, and contests the A$60,000 Benchmark 64 3YO Fillies 1000 metres. She notched up two thirds from three starts prior to her stylish Maiden win over 1430 metres in November, has been course/distance placed, and possesses the ability to prove competitive in this small field. NZ TAB fixed odds: $27.00 & $3.60. 

Main picture - Tithe Bay winning