Te Akau Trans-Tasman Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Friday 11 October at Taupo, and one at Cranbourne, Victoria.

Taupo: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy8, rail: true. 6mls rain forecast Thursday and 4mls Friday. 

1:37 p.m. R4 18 By Her Rules (3 f Kermadec – Empress Cixi) – Matt Cartwright; finished back when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 970 metres on 18 September at Cambridge (poly-track), and contests the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres. She receives opportunity to show improvement from barrier six. Fixed odds: $20.00 & $4.60.

2:12 p.m. R5 1 Egyptian Queen (4 m Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Opie Bosson; she raced handily and was tightened for room before finishing sixth when resuming in the $18,500 Rating 65 1100 metres here on 20 September. Contesting the corresponding event, she placed in both the Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes over 1340m and the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy over 1200m last season, has speed and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.35. 

4:03 p.m. R8 5 Stonybreck (5 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Matt Cartwright; he finished ninth after leading and being taken on in the Open Handicap 1600 metres on 27 September at Te Rapa. Contesting the $25,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres, he was a dual winner prior at Cambridge (poly-track), is better suited ridden with cover and is provided with the opportunity to bounce back if appreciative of the prevailing conditions. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.20. 

4:41 p.m. R9 4 The Sky Above (4 m American Pharoah – Blue Blue Sky) – Craig Grylls; she ranged up to challenge on straightening and lengthened nicely to win a trial on 19 September at Rotorua, also on Heavy10 footing, and also with Bosson aboard. Resuming in the $18,500 Maiden 1300 metres, she placed in five of seven starts in a very consistent campaign last season, including a strong closing second here over 1750 metres. She also appears a realistic top three prospect fresh-up. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.55.  

Cranbourne:

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

7:40 p.m. (NZ) ~ 5:40 p.m. (Vic) R1 11 Our Paramour (3 f Contributer – Victory Parade) – Blake Shinn; he squeezed through late for third when debuting in the Maiden 3YO Fillies 1300 metres here on 5 September and produced a strong effort for third in the Crown Oaks Preview 1800 metres on 22 September at Flemington, ridden in each by Shinn. Drawn barrier one in the A$40,000 Maiden 2025 metres, she does everything right and looks for her running home strongly. NZ TAB fixed odds: $1.60 & $1.05.