Te Akau Trans-Tasman Gr.1 Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Saturday 21 February at Ellerslie, New Zealand and six horses entered at Caulfield, Melbourne.

Ellerslie:  

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

12:25 p.m. R1 4 Seize The Day (2 c I Am Invincible – Zimaretto) – Opie Bosson; he began well to lead in a line of three on the inner, had a two-length advantage at the 300m, and drew out to easily win a trial here on 10 February, also with Opie aboard. Debuting in the $40,000 Maiden 2YO 1100 metres, he is by the Champion Sire, out of a multiple stakes’ producing dam, and on debut he looks a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.45.

1:35 p.m. R3 3 Dream Of The Moon (4 m All Too Hard – Moonchild) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she was claimed late after coming from five lengths astern (600m) with a strong finish in the Rating 75 1400 metres here on 11 January, and was not pressured finding the line for a close second in Group & Listed trial on 11 February at Te Aroha, likewise with Hassman aboard. Contesting the $75,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, she enjoys weight relief to 57kg, and was up to the best of the three-year-olds last season, including an impressive victory in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m). She has in fact been stakes’ placed three times 1100m – 1400m, and looks to be a top three contender from barrier two. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $3.00.

2:09 p.m. R4 1 To Bravery Born (3 g Snitzel – Milunka) – Ben Thompson; he finished strongly after getting back to last in the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) here on 24 January, won by stable-mate Belle Cheval (Savabeel), and contests the $150,000 Group 3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes over 1400m. He resumed with an impressive win in December, has won four of his nine starts, has an excellent fresh up record, is certainly up to a first four finish from his handy gate (2) - one of tow in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $2.90.

2:09 p.m. R4 8 Belle Cheval (3 f Savabeel – Keepa Cheval) – Opie Bosson; she won the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) here on Karaka Millions Night (24 Jan.) in impressive style, and also contests the Group 3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes. She has been a stand-out, winning two of her four career starts, was third in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m), and that trip away has seen her mature and develop physically and mentally. She will need luck from her wide draw (13) but will make her presence felt no doubt. Fixed odds: $2.30 & $1.30.

Te Akau has previously won the Uncle Remus Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) five times, most recently in 2022 with Wild Night (Vanbrugh).

2:52 p.m. R5 2 Towering Vision (3 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision) – Opie Bosson; he wound up with a big finish from last to win the 3YO 1600 metres here on 1 January and raced very well again for close second Group 2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) on 7 February at Te Rapa (beaten only a long neck), each with Bosson aboard. Contesting the $250,000 Group 2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m), from barrier four he is right in the top three contention. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.65.

Te Akau has previously won the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m) three times, most recently in 2017 with Gingernuts (Iffraaj).

3:28 p.m. R6 1 Qali Al Farrasha (5 m Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Ben Thompson; she has been freshened since finishing fifth in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) here on Boxing Day, and looked good closing the margin for fourth in Group & Listed trial on 11 February at Te Aroha. Contesting the $600,000 Group 1 Sport Nation Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m), she has been somewhat overlooked in the market but is quadruple Group One placed, and was runner-up in the event last year. She is a terrific mare with excellent credentials, and it would not surprise to see her deliver a top three finish from barrier four. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.10.

Te Akau has previously won the Otaki Maori WFA Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) five times, most recently in 2022 with Avantage (Fastnet Rock).

4:38 p.m. R8 10 Born To Be Royal (3 f King’s Legacy – Fatal Rendezvous) – Ben Thompson; she ran on strongly for third in the Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) here, before dropping in class to win a Maiden over 2000 metres at Matamata, and absolutely nothing went her way in the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) on 7 February at Te Rapa. Contesting the $1 million Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m), she is a capable filly, but has drawn awkwardly (11) but with the Australian senior rider engaged, she will be given every chance. Fixed odds: $41.00 & $8.00.

Te Akau has previously won the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) three times, most recently in 2022 with homebred filly Belle En Rouge (Burgundy), who also became their eighth New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.

Caulfield:

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

3:55 p.m. (NZ) - 1:55 p.m. (Vic) R4 13 Abrafo (3 g Per Incanto – Not A Jaffa) – Ben Melham; he broke through at his third start in the Maiden 1429 metres on 3 February at Seymour, and steps up in the A$300,000 Group 2 Stow Storage Autumn Classic (1800m). His dam Not A Jaffa (Iffraaj) is a half-sister to Champion Middle Distance Horse and Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (Tavistock), each out of dual NZ Broodmare of the Year Bagalollies (Zabeel), and he’s perfectly drawn (2) for his step up to black type competition. NZ TAB fixed odds: $23.00 & $6.00. 

4:30 p.m. (NZ) - 2:30 p.m. (Vic) R5 6 Chateau Eze (3 f Frankel – Antibes) – Jordan Childs; she finished strongly out of midfield for a close fourth when resuming in the Group 3 Peter Le Grand Stakes (1100m) here on 7 February, also with Childs aboard, and contests the A$300,000 Group 2 Sportsbet Amanasco Stakes (1400m). She followed her smart debut win with a very good second in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, and brings the right form to race well. NZ TAB fixed odds: $8.00 & $1.85.   

5:05 p.m. (NZ) - 3:05 p.m. (Vic) R6 5 Damask Rose (4 m Savabeel – Sombreuil) – Craig Williams; she resumed with a grand performance for second in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) here on 31 January, also with Williams aboard, and contests the $200,000 Group 3 Catanach’s Jewellers Mannerism Stakes (1400m). She won the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and $3.5 million NZB Kiwi last season in New Zealand, has been working very well, and is primed for this. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.45.

5:40 p.m. (NZ) - 3:40 p.m. (Vic) R7 5 Watch Me Rock (5 g Awesome Rock – What Choux Want) – William Pike; he recently won a trial at Lark Hill (Western Australia), and is having his first start for Te Akau trainer Mark Walker in the A$750,000 Group 1 Henley Homes Futurity Stakes (1400m). The winner of 11 races from 1200m – 1800m, including the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m), his quest for further Group 1 honours is aided by barrier one. NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.50 & $2.35.

6:15 p.m. (NZ) - 4:15 p.m. (Vic) R8 15 I Am Aria (2 f I Am Invincible – Talaria) – Craig Williams; she debuted with a terrific effort for second in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1000m) and fought hard for third in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) (1100m), both at Caulfield and the top rider stays aboard. Contesting the A$2,000,000 Group 1 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), she is racing very well, and ideally drawn (5) to prove competitive in a red hot field. NZ TAB fixed odds: $20.00 & $5.50.

6:55 p.m. (NZ) - 4:55 p.m. (Vic) R9 10 Geegees Mistruth (4 m Wordsmith – Miss Mana) – Michael Dee; she was extremely unlucky when mounting her run from last to finish third when resuming in the Listed W. J. Adams Stakes (1000m) here on 24 January, and looked super when subsequently winning a jump out on 9 February at Cranbourne. Contesting the A$750,000 Group 1 Sportsbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m), in 15 starts she’s notched up six wins to 1400 metres, including two from three over 1100 metres, and is drawn to receive an economical trip from barrier one. NZ TAB fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.70. 

Main picture - I Am Aria as a yearling