Te Akau Trans-Tasman Group 1 Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 14 horses entered on Saturday 9 November at Te Rapa, Hamilton and Riccarton, Christchurch in Nw Zealand, and one horses entered at Flemington, Melbourne.

Te Rapa: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 6 metres. No rain forecast. 

12:57 p.m. R2 8 Akenehi (4 m Fastnet Rock – Igraine) – Vinnie Colgan; she positioned three back on the inner and found the line without threatening when resuming in the Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres on 26 October at Ellerslie, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. She finished fourth or better in five starts before winning over 1400 metres last season, and was fourth at her only previous course attempt. Her dam had a terrific affinity with Te Rapa, and this daughter rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.95.

1:30 p.m. R3 8 La Dorada (2 f Super Seth – Gold Fever) – Vinnie Colgan; she began well to race outside the leader, was clear in the lead with a rival at the 400m, but gained the upper-hand over the concluding stages to win a trial on 29 October at Waipa. Debuting in the $40,000 2YO 1100 metres, Te Akau bought and trained her dam Gold Fever (Savabeel), the winner of the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes 1200 s a 2YO, and she was also Group One placed. Second and first in her two trials to date, she has the ability to finish in the top three from barrier four.  Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.45.

2:05 p.m. R4 1 Petrucci (5 m I Am Invincible – Via Napoli) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a2); she made ground stylishly after missing the start by many lengths in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 12 October, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1300 metres. With weight relief to 58.5kg, she has ability to prove far more competitive than her form line may suggest, if she can secure a with decent trip from her awkward draw (9). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.

2:48 p.m. R5 8 Bella Voce (4 m Fastnet Rock – Keep On Singing) – Vinnie Colgan; she resumed with a good fourth in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 13 October at Rotorua, and did well from back in the field to again finish fourth but on Heavy10 footing in the Rating 65 1000 metres on 27 October at Trentham. She brings top three credentials to the contest and jumps from the handy barrier five in the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.60.

4:37 p.m. R8 2 Qali Al Farrasha (4 m Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Amber Riddell (a3); she was most impressive when resuming with victory in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 26 October at Ellerslie, and remains in same grade for $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. She impressed winning over 1600 metres last season, before finishing a very close second (neck) in the Group 3 Sunline Vase 2100m and was a very game third in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks over 2400m. A classy performer, she will benefit from weight relief to 57.5kg, while her rider is three wins from three rides for stable. The only negative is that she has drawn very wide (15) but still can make a major impact in the race nonetheless - one of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.95.

4:37 p.m. R8 5 Zantabulous (5 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Vinnie Colgan; she tracked Qali Al Farrasha (above) and ran home strongly for fourth when resuming in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 26 October at Ellerslie, and also contests $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. A winner of three races to 1600 metres, including a course/distance victory in April, she is a genuine performer who is ideally drawn (3) to give this field a shake. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.60.?

Riccarton: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

1:13 p.m. R4 6 Insatiable (5 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Liam Riordan; he went on to win comfortably after ranging wide in a trial on 13 August at Ashburton, and resumes in the $65,000 Rating 75 1100 metres. This time last season, he scored fresh up He resumed over 1000 metres, is the winner of three races to 1200 metres, does act effectively when fresh, and is well positioned to present as a top three chance - the first of five rides for the team on Saturday for visiting Australian jockey Liam Riordan, whose first foray across saw him record a winning double and stakes’ placing for the team at Ashburton. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.30.

2:18 p.m. R6 7 Caravella (5 m Caravaggio – Highland Lights) – Liam Riordan; she was unable to quicken in the heavy ground but still did well for third when trialling on 8 October at Matamata, and resumes in the $90,000 Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes over 1000m. She won four 1200-metre races last season, possesses a good course record, and certainly has the ability to prove competitive if her visiting rider can secure some good luck in the running from her awkward gate (10). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.40.

2:55 p.m. R7 11 Vivacious (4 m Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Liam Riordan; she produced a notable effort for third in the Rating 65 1200 metres on here 14 September, and sustained a huge finish from the rear to snatch victory in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 12 October at Ashburton, also with Riordan aboard on that occasion. Up in grade for the $65,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, she clocks good sectionals, and is a definite first three chance however she is yet another who has drawn a sticky gate which she will need to combat (13) - one of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $4.00 &1.75.

2:55 p.m. R7 12 Mazzucato (4 m Tivaci – Yellen) – Craig Grylls; she was unable to quicken on the Heavy10 footing that prevailed for the Rating 75 1400 metres on 27 October at Trentham, and likewise she too contests the $65,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. She ended previous campaign with solid efforts in stakes’ races here, and was a course/distance winner during Cup Week last year. She resumed in September with a comprehensive victory over 1400 metres at Matamata, and look to see her in the thick of the action at the business end of proceedings, jumping from barrier six. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70.

3:30 p.m. R8 4 Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay) – Craig Grylls; the first of two stable starters in this feature, she dived through to just miss (second) winning the Waverley Cup (Open Handicap, 2200 metres) on 20 October at Waverley, and contests the $100,000 Listed  Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy 2600m. She was denied room when finishing sixth in the corresponding event last year, and was runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks 2400m as three-year-old. She looks to be peaking at right time, and is perfectly drawn (2) to prove highly competitive in this event. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.25.

3:30 p.m. R8 5 Fierce Flight (6 g Flying Artie – First Bloom) – Liam Riordan; he was unable to handle the Heavy10 conditions in the Listed Spring Classic 2000m here on 26 October, and also contests the Listed Metropolitan Trophy. He is the winner of six races from 1600m – 2200m, including the Listed Hawkes Bay Cup over 2200m. He has also placed twice to 3200 metres at Group Three level, and look for a quick turnaround in form on better footing. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.00.

4:05 p.m. R9 14 Beau Brummell (4 g Embellish – Fashion Forward) – Liam Riordan; he had no joy contesting two races on poly-tracks, and was unable to handle the Heavy10 going in the Rating 75 1800 metres here on 26 October. Contesting the $65,000 Rating 75 2000 metres, he is a dual course winner over 1600 metres, and was also a notable fourth in the Listed Southland Guineas 1600m last season. The better track conditions will be conducive to a change in fortune for him. Fixed odds: $27.00 & $7.00.

4:47 p.m. R10 6 When Stars Align (3 c Zoustar – Shenandoah) – Kevin Stott; he did well finishing third in a key lead up race to this, the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes 1400m, on 12 October at Ashburton, but can be forgiven after floundering on Heavy10 ground in the Group 3 War Decree Stakes 1600m here on 26 October. Contesting the $650,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas over the mile, look for an enhanced performance on better footing. Fixed odds: $34.00 & $4.80.


Te Akau has won the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas seven times, most recently in 2021 with Noverre (Savabeel) who now stands at Waikato Stud.

Flemington: 

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 8 metres. No rain forecast.

5:50 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:50 p.m. (Vic) R6 12 Bellatrix Star (3 f Star Witness – Alana’s Party) – Michael Dee; she notched a hat-trick of stakes’ wins in Australia when scoring impressively in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes over 1100m on 12 October at Caulfield. She then caught everyone’s attention when staging a terrific performance from last to finish second in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes 1200m here last Saturday. Contesting the A$3 million Group 1 Darley Champions Sprint 1200m, won last year by former stable-mate and reigning Horse of the Year Imperatriz, she carries only 51.5kg as three-year-old filly at weight-for-age conditions, and has definite first four claims rates a top four chance if the former Te Akau apprentice aboard can successful navigate her wide gate (10). NZ TAB fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.70.