Te Akau Trans Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Friday 9 October at Taupo, New Zealand and two horses entered at Ballarat, Victoria.

Taupo: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

1:42 p.m. R3 6 Zaharias (3 f Super Seth – Green Roller) – Michael McNab; she finished third after racing outside the leader when resuming in the Maiden 1050 metres, won by stable-mate Geneva Queen (Swiss Ace), on 16 September at Matamata. Contesting the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres, she’s putting together a good record, having placed in four of her five starts and despite the tricky gate (9), she can be right in the thick of things at the business end. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.05. 

2:17 p.m. R4 2 Sword Of Steel (3 g Sword Of State – Miss Remington) – Craig Grylls; he was given the chance to find his feet after jumping out well and then closed strongly between runners for second in a trial on 22 September at Avondale. Resuming in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres, he made his debut in June with a very good second to subsequent Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Old Fashioned (Proisir), and despite being another of our runners with a terrible draw (11), he still can produce a top three finish with any luck.  Fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.55.

2:51 p.m. R5 1 Egyptian Queen (6 m Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she yielded ground after sharing the pace when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 19 September at Ellerslie, and is one of two stable starters contesting the $18,500 Rating 75 1000 metres. To her credit, she has won and placed on the course from three starts, and is ideally drawn (3) to show improvement. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.15. 

2:51 p.m. R5 2 King’s English (4 h Snitzel – English) – Opie Bosson; he secured a lovely trip in fourth and sustained a strong gallop to prevail in a competitive finish when trialling on 24 September at Avondale, also with Opie Bosson aboard. Resuming in the $18,500 Rating 75 1000 metres, he has been impressive winning three from seven starts, has placed in both of his course attempts to date, and from barrier four, he is well placed to make an impression. Fixed odds: $2.35 & $1.20.

3:25 p.m. R6 3 Petite Rocher (4 m Grunt – Little Rock) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she finished well for third when resuming in the Maiden 970 metres on 9 September at Cambridge (poly-track), and contests the $18,500 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses). She is a very honest filly, who always tries hard and has placed in four of seven starts, but once again, the draw doesn’t help her chances (13). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

4:05 p.m. R7 14 Aquadream (3 f Written Tycoon – Seababe) – Michael McNab; she was steadied to travel three back on the outer and lengthened stride nicely for fourth in a trial on 25 August at Waipa. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 1400 metres, she shares the same sire (Written Tycoon) as Te Akau purchased and trained Group One winning filly Captured By Love. Her dam Seababe (Sebring) won four races from 1500m – 1900m in Australia, and she dawn to advantage jumping from the ace. Fixed odds: $2.90 & $1.45.

5:24 p.m. R9 2 Emma Twigg (4 m El Roca – Megara) – Michael McNab; she ran the fastest last 600m (34.5) coming from last to finish second when resuming in the Rating 65 1050 metres on 16 September at Matamata, and is one of two for the stable lining up in the $18,500 Rating 65 1100 metres. She recorded a strong debut victory over 1150 metres and looks a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.50.

5:24 p.m. R9 5 Geneva Queen (4 m Swiss Ace – Sigiriya) – Hayley Hassman (a1); the second starter for the team in the Rating 65 1100 metres, won with plenty of authority when resuming in the Maiden 1050 metres on 16 September at Matamata, also with our apprentice Hayley aboard. She commenced in good fashion and rates a top three chance but once again, the wide draw is the sticky point (12). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.15. 

Ballarat:

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 9 metres. No rain forecast. 

4:00 p.m. (NZ) - 2:00 p.m. (Vic) R3 9 Kiss Me In Paris (3 f Capitalist – Fromparis Withlove) – Harry Coffey; she went forward from the outside gate to lead and comfortably win a trial on 14 September at Cranbourne. Resuming in the A$42,500 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres, she is by Group 1 by Golden Slipper winner and Champion Two-Year-Old Capitalist (Written Tycoon), from a stakes' placed mare that won three races to 1400 metres, and is ideally drawn (3) to commence with a bold fresh up showing. 

5:00 p.m. (NZ) - 3:00 p.m. (Vic) R5 4 Koko (4 m Written Tycoon – Tawteen) – Stephanie Hateley (a3); she won the Maiden 1000 metres on 4 September by 3.25 lengths and fought hard for a close third after a tough run racing outside leader in the Rating 62 1000 metres on 17 September, both at Mornington. Contesting the A$27,000 Rating 56 1000 metres, she has the plus of weight relief to 58kg, and from barrier four is a genuine top three prospect.

Main picture - Egyptian Queen winning on course