Te Akau Trans Tasman Group 1 Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has 16 horses racing on Saturday 3 October: Hastings, Riccarton, and Royal Randwick (Sydney).

Hastings:

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

2.40 p.m. R5 7 Pinultimate (5 m Pins - Lost In Dubai) - Troy Harris; closed strongly to snatch first on the line when trialling on 15 September at Te Rapa, and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. A four-length winner on debut and three from five in total, she is a talented racehorse and despite a long layoff should go well from barrier four. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.70. 

2.40 p.m. R5 12 Festivity (4 m I Am Invincible - Mabsam) - Danielle Johnson; was impressive winning both her starts before spelling in January, too smart once clear in the straight when trialling on 22 September at Rotorua, and resumes in the $30,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. She has risen quickly in grade, but warrants favouritism and should prove tough. Fixed odds: $1.70 & $1.20. 

3.50 p.m. R7 1 Need I Say More (3 g No Nay Never - Bo Bardi) - Troy Harris; is unbeaten in three starts, including the Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) and Northland Breeders Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 5 September at Te Rapa, when running the fastest last 600m (34.3) on the day. Although drawn out (11), he warrants favouritism in the $100,000 Dundeel at Arrowfield Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). Fixed odds: $1.70 & $1.15.

5.00 p.m. R9 3 Prise De Fer (5 g Savabeel - Foiled) - Opie Bosson; finished strongly fresh-up for third to stable-mate and race rival Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 5 September at Te Rapa, and contests the $200,000 Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m). He was brilliant winning five in the row last season, including the Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) in January at Ellerslie, and a terrific second to quadruple Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in the Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m). Drawn out (14) is an inconvenience, but he has the ability to figure with the right trip. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.10.

5.00 p.m. R9 7 Melody Belle (6 m Commands - Meleka Belle) - Troy Harris; returned home after a solid effort in the Winx Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 22 August at Randwick, and looked good winning a trial on 22 September at Rotorua. The reigning NZ Horse of the Year, winner of 10 Group 1 races (15 from 32, and $3.5m), unbeaten in five Group 1 races on the course and a historical winner last season of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown, she is ideally drawn (4) to threaten in the $200,000 Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m). Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.60.

5.00 p.m. R9 8 Avantage (5 m Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Danielle Johnson; commenced her five-year-old season with a typically tough as teak victory in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 5 September at Te Rapa, and finished third after missing the start in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) here on 19 September. A quadruple Group 1 winner from 1200m - 2000m, she has both immense talent and resolve that makes her hard to beat from barrier five. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.50.  

Riccarton:

Weather: fine, track: Dead4, rail: true. No rain forecast.

11.30 p.m. R1 2 Lethal (4 g Savabeel - Katie Lee) - Chelsea Burdan (a2); made good ground when trialling on 22 September at Ashburton, and resumes in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres. His recent efforts have been sound and he rates a top three chance with weight relief to 56.5kgs. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15. 

12.35 p.m. R3 1 Avonallo (2 c Belardo - Real Angel) - Samantha Wynne; was professional winning a trial on 8 September at Ellerslie, again on 22 September at Ashburton, and debuts in the $22,500 2YO 800 metres. Against four first-timers, he appears a major threat. Fixed odds: $1.70 & $1.00.

1.45 p.m. R5 1 Bordeaux Le Rouge (3 g Burgundy - De La Vere) - Samantha Wynne; had a very good two-year-old season, culminating a second, first, and fourth, respectively, with fourth to stable-mate Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) in the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m). Fifth fresh-up on slow ground in the Rating 65 1250 metres on 18 September at Ashburton, he can improve further on good footing, from barrier one, in the $25,000 Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial (3YO, 1400m). Fixed odds: $2.60 & $1.20.

2.55 p.m. R7 1 Aotea Lad (4 g Savabeel - Corsage) - Chelsea Burdan (a2); resumed here with a very good effort for second in the Rating 97 1200 metres on 12 September, and contests the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres. A horse with ability and former nominee for Champion Two-Year-Old, he receives weight relief to 58.5kgs and should race well again. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

2.55 p.m. R7 2 Summer Monsoon (6 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Rohan Mudhoo (a2); found a good position from an awkward draw before being claimed late in the Rating 91 1400 metres here on 12 September, with this jockey aboard. Ideally drawn (1) in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres and claiming to 58kgs, he is dropping back in distance but should perform creditably again. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

2.55 p.m. R7 7 Phantom Witness (4 g Star Witness - Fandom) - Samantha Wynne; flew home only to be beaten by a nose, running the fastest last 600m (33.6) on the day, when resuming in the Rating 91 1200 metres on 4 September at Timaru. The winner of two from four, he has the right credentials to threaten despite drawing wide (15) in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75.

3.33 p.m. R8 5 Cornflower Blue (3 f Savabeel - Tiffany Yellow) - Samantha Wynne; recorded a very good debut second to stable-mate and subsequent dual stakes winner Need I Say More (above) in February at Matamata. She won both trials before resuming with an impressive win in the Maiden 1200 metres on 9 September at Matamata, and has the class to prove a major factor in the $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $1.90 & $1.20.

4.08 p.m. R9 13 Age of Fire (6 g Fastnet Rock - Dragon's Tail) - Chelsea Burdan (a2); got into his work boldly over the final 200m when trialling in August at Te Teko, and without much luck when resuming here in the Rating 97 1200 metres on 12 September. Group 1 winner of the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m), after finishing second to stable-mate Embellish (Savabeel) here in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). Likely to get back over a sprint trip from a wide draw (20) and look for him finding the line. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80.

5.52 p.m. R12 3 Markus Aurelius (4 g Ghibellines - Evancho) - Chelsea Burdan (a2); got home with a big finish for second in the $22,500 Rating 65 1400 metres on 12 September, and kept fresh to contest the corresponding event. Following two strong performances with a super gallop to win over 1400 metres in March at Matamata, he is bred to go further but appears competitive with weight relief to 57.5kgs and ideally drawn (4). Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.

Randwick:

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

7.05 p.m. (NZ time) R7 11 Probabeel (4 m Savabeel - Far Fetched) - Kerrin McEvoy; scored emphatically under a hand ride in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (Gr. 3, 1400m) here a fortnight ago, with McEvoy aboard, and steps up in the $1m Epsom Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m). Winner of the Surround Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) on the course in February, she receives footing to suit but not the draw (17). Offsetting is weight reduction to 52.5kgs and luck in running could see this brilliant mare perform very well in an iconic race. NZ TAB fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15.

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