Te Akau Trans-Tasman Gr.1 Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 13 horses entered on Saturday 6 September at Ellerslie, New Zealand and one horse at Moonee Valley, Melbourne.

Ellerslie:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. 4mls rain forecast Saturday. 

1:08 p.m. R3 1 Top Shelf (4 m Savabeel – Saoirse) – Sam McNab (a3); she spelled after finishing second in the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) in February at Te Rapa, and has trialled three times in preparation to resume. Contesting the $75,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, she won her Maiden over 1600 metres in stylish fashion and has weight relief to 57.5kg with the promising apprentice engaged.  However she has drawn the outside gate (16) so will be likely settle back and be looking to run home strongly. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.80.

1:42 p.m. R4 2 Cool ‘N’ Fast (4 g Savabeel – Cool ‘N’ Sassy) – Opie Bosson; he last raced in the RL Karaka Million 2YO over 1200m and, following a lengthy spell, returned to the trials on 4 August at Taupo where he quickened under a hold for well-timed win. Resuming in the $75,000 Rating 65 1100 metres, he impressed when winning on debut as two-year-old, looked good winning that recent trial, and from the handy barrier (3) he has strong top four claims. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.85.

2:17 p.m. R5 11 Carsolio (3 g Bivouac – Whitehaven) – Opie Bosson; he resumed with a sound win in the Maiden 1000 metres on 17 August at Taupo, also with Bosson aboard, and contests the $75,000 Special Conditions 1200 metres. While he does meet a much stronger field, he possesses the speed to utilise barrier one and has shown the ability to prove competitive in his biggest test yet. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15.

2:50 p.m. R6 2 Hostility (3 c I Am Invincible – Shillelagh) – Opie Bosson; he followed a debut second with a strong performance for second in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), won by stable-mate La Dorada, and finished solidly to grab a trial win here on 28 August. One of two stablemates resuming in the $110,000 Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy 1200m, he boasts a high-class pedigree and has shown the early ability to be right in the thick of the action at the business end. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.40.

2:50 p.m. R6 3 He Who Dares (3 c Snitzel – Rondinella) – Craig Grylls; the second runner in this featured for the stable, he closed the margin nicely to finish second in a trial on 4 August at Taupo, and likewise resumes in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy. He impressed winning on debut, then finished second in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) and fifth here in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), both won by stable-mate and fellow Snitzel colt Return To Conquer. He rates a top three chance from barrier one in the hands of last season’s Premiership winning jockey. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.60.

3:25 p.m. R7 2 In Haste (3 f Snitzel – Prompt) – Opie Bosson; she quickly put a break on the field when winning the the 3YO 1100 metres on 17 August fresh-up at Taupo, also with Bosson aboard, and is one of two stable contenders in the $150,000 Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m). With two wins from three starts under her belt, including a second here on debut, watch for her to be flying home in the Cancer Society fund-raising Daffodil Day colours. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.65.

3:25 p.m. R7 6 Queen’s Evidence (3 f King’s Legacy – Enjay) – Joe Doyle; she quickened when asked at the 300m and flattened out nicely to win her trial on 26 August at Waipa, with Doyle aboard there too. Resuming in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes, she comfortably won on debut before finishing fourth in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) and second in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m), and is ideally drawn (3) to be a top three prospect. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.60.

4:00 p.m. R8 5 El Viento (5 g El Roca – Mandeville) – Joe Doyle; he kept going boldly without urging to win a trial on 4 August at Taupo, and resumes in the $75,000 Rating 75 1300 metres - one of two contesting the event for the tangerine team. His record shows three wins to 1600 metres and we know he has the ability to act fresh. He has however copped a nightmare draw (17), so is likely to get back from there and be finding line solidly. Fixed odds: $23.00 & $6.00.

4:00 p.m. R8 17 Age Of Discovery (4 g Savabeel – Bayrock) – Opie Bosson; the second stable runner in the Rating 75 1300m, he got back and found line well on Heavy9 footing for third when resuming in the Rating 75 1100 metres on 16 August at Ruakaka. He impressed when winning early last season over 1400 metres before being injured, and while he is destined for further, his ability will take him a long way towards a top three finish if the genius of Opie can navigate his awkward gate (9). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.60.

4:35 p.m. R9 14 Qali Al Farrasha (5 m Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Opie Bosson; she finished second in both the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) last season, before ending a terrific campaign with a third placing here in the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m). She found the line solidly for third and fifth, respectively, in two recent trials at Taupo, again with Bosson aboard, and resumes in the $400,000 Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m). While she may prefer further, she possesses a very good course/distance record, is certainly a classy mare, and looks a top four prospect even having drawn barrier 11 - one of two mares in the feature event for the stable. Could she be Opie's 100th Group 1 winner? Fixed odds: $23.00 & $6.00.

4:35 p.m. R9 15 Quintessa (5 m Shamus Award – Chaquinta) – Rory Hutchings; she resumed last season with victory in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, returning to New Zealand to spell at the end of a busy Australian season.  She remained back on a Heavy10 footing when trialling on 9 August at Te Rapa and resumes in the Group 1 Proisir Plate. A Group One winner of the Levin Classic (1600m) as three-year-old, she was stakes’ placed multiple times in Australia, and is proven to race well fresh-up. She is a genuine girl who always tries hard, but like a number of our Saturday team, her prospects have been dealt a blow by the wide draw (15). Fixed odds: $31.00 & $7.50.

5:08 p.m. R10 2 Balance Of Power (5 g Almanzor – Respin) – Sam McNab (a3); he closed solidly for fourth in a trial on 17 August at Taupo, and resumes in the $75,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. He has won three times to 2000 metres from six starts in his previous campaign, which ended in great form, and was stakes’ placed as a two-year-old. The apprentice aboard sees him drop to 58kg, and he does have the ability to pose a first four chance fresh-up - the first of two in the last race for the team. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $6.00.

5:08 p.m. R10 3 I’m A Dirty Rascal (8 g Galileo – Remember When, by Danehill Dancer) – Hayley Hassman (a3); he has had two starts in New Zealand, most recently here in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m), and looked fine in his action when running home in a trial on 4 August at Taupo. Resuming in the Rating 75 1600 metres, the stable apprentice sees him carry 58kg, and while he is likely to get back from his nasty draw (14), he should be finding the line in good fashion. Fixed odds: $35.00 & $9.00.

Moonee Valley:

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

6:50 p.m. (NZ time) R9 15 La Dorada (3 f Super Seth – Gold Fever) – Luke Cartwright (a); she looked very good finishing second in a jump out on 18 August at Cranbourne, and resumes in the A$750,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (Gr. 1, 1000m) - won in 2023 by 10-time group 1 winning stablemate Imperatriz in track record time.  La Dorada won four of five starts last season, including the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), RL Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and is nominated for New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old, to be announced on Sunday. While this distance is likely short of her best, the option was chosen as she carries a light weight (50kg) as three-year-old filly at weight-for-age. She has drawn a tricky gate (9) but there’s no question she is classy and tough. NZ TAB fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.00. 

Main picture - Quintessa winning the Group 1 Levin Classic