Te Akau Trans Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has nine horses entered on Friday 27 September at Te Rapa, and one at Moonee Valley, Melbourne.

Te Rapa: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: out 9 metres. 4mls rain forecast Friday. 

2:06 p.m. R4 1 Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay) – Ngakau Hailey (a3); she remained back on heavy ground when resuming in the Open Handicap 1500 metres on 4 September at Matamata, has since had an exhibition gallop, and drops in grade for the $40,000 Rating 75 2100 metres. Second in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks as three-year-old, she was a dual winner to 2200 metres last season, including winning the Taupo Cup. The apprentice engagement brings weight relief to 59kg and she does possess the ability to prove competitive if appreciative of the track conditions. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.40.

2:41 p.m. R5 4 Wild Night (5 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Wiremu Pinn; he was held together while going well for third in a trial on 19 September at Rotorua, with Pinn aboard, and resumes in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres. The winner of six from 13, including the Group 2 Sarten Memorial on this track over 1400m, he boasts a good course/distance record. After being sidelined through injury, he is looking to resume his career in confident fashion, if he can secure a decent trip from barrier 11. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.

2:41 p.m. R5 6 Wolverine (5 m Tivaci – Knew It) – Craig Grylls; she situated handily on the outer and stretched out to easily win a trial on 19 September at Rotorua, also with Grylls aboard. Another resuming in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres, she handled yielding ground in her trial, and while she is a proven performer, she will be looking to recapture her form, having drawn well (3) for the assignment. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.00. 

2:41 p.m. R5 8 Petrucci (5 m I Am Invincible – Via Napoli) – Matt Cartwright; she positioned handily on the outer and sustained a strong gallop for second in a trial on 19 September at Rotorua. Resuming in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres, she has been an impressive winner at this distance, has the advantages of handling soft ground, acting well when fresh, and carrying the minimum weight (54kg). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.45.

3:13 p.m. R6 8 Stonybreck (5 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Matt Cartwright; he recorded his sixth poly-track victory from seven career wins in the Rating 75 1550 metres on 18 September at Cambridge, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. He does meet a far stronger field, and whilst he has placed on the course, he has been a recent back-to-back winner on the poly which he seems to favour. He will carry the minimum weight (54kg) which should work in his favour - one of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.80. 

3:13 p.m. R6 9 Elegant Lady (5 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Jess Allen (a2); she ran home solidly for a staying mare over a sprint trip when trialling on 3 September at Cambridge (poly-track), and resumes in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. She recorded a hat-trick of wins before being stakes' placed in the both the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup over 2400m and Listed Rotorua Cup over 2200m last season. She has weight relief to 52kg, has delivered two wins on soft ground, so look for her to be finding the line strongly. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.20. 

4:21 p.m. R8 9 Bella Voce (4 m Fastnet Rock – Keep On Singing) – Craig Grylls; she positioned in fourth on the inner and sustained a strong finish for second in a trial on 19 September at Rotorua. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, she powered away to win at this distance in June at Matamata.  The blinkers are on, and she possesses the record and the ability to prove competitive with a decent trip from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.10.

4:53 p.m. R9 4 Malborough Bay (5 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin) – Jess Allen (a2); one of two stable runners in the last race on the programme, he fought well after leading for fourth in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 4 September at Matamata, also with Allen aboard, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Three of his four wins have come over 1400 metres, including here in last April, he has weight relief to 57kg, but is yet another needing everything to go his way from a difficult draw, in this case the outside gate (18). Fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.50. 

4:53 p.m. R9 12 My Lips Are Sealed (4 m Ace High – Tellmeaboutit) – Wiremu Pinn; she raced clear to win the Rating 65 1400 metres on 4 September at Matamata and likewise contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. A dual winner on heavy ground, she was second in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes over the mile last season, unlike her aforementioned stablemate, is ideally drawn (2) and has the proven ability to measure up. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.20. 

Moonee Valley:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

10:15 p.m. (NZ time) R5 3 Bellatrix Star (3 f Star Witness – Alana’s Party) – Michael Dee; she did well to finish fifth when resuming in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes over 1100m on 17 August at Caulfield, and charged home for an impressive victory in Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes over the same distance on 14 September at Flemington. Contesting the A$200,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Scarborough Stakes 1200m, she likes to get back and run home and, while having her first start on her new 'home' course, she has first first claims if the former Te Akau apprentice can lock in a decent trip from barrier eight. NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.10.