Te Akau Trans Tasman Group 1 Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 19 horses entered on Saturday 16 November at Tauranga and Riccarton (New Zealand Cup Day) in New Zealand, and Caulfield in Melbourne. 

Tauranga: 

Weather: showery, track: Soft5, rail: out 2 metres from 1000m – 400m, remainder true. 19mls rain forecast Friday and no rain Saturday. 

1:35 p.m. R3 13 Francee (5 m Iffraaj – Calveen) – Vinnie Colgan; she travelled beyond midfield on a genuine tempo, was eight lengths off the leader at the 600m, and closed the margin down the outside when resuming in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres here on 2 November. Contesting the corresponding event, she is a dual winner over 1400 metres on soft and heavy going and is capable of further improvement with any luck from her wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50. 

2:10 p.m. R4 3 Egyptian Queen (4 m Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Rihaan Goyaraam (a3); she settled last and ran home in the fastest last 600m (34.3) for fourth in the Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres on 26 October at Ellerslie, and is one of two Te Akau mares contesting the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Placed in both her course attempts, she is twice stakes’ placed, enjoys weight relief to 56.5kg, and is a top three chance from barrier five. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.60.

2:10 p.m. R4 7 Inca Belle (5 m Per Incanto – Belle Vie) – Vinnie Colgan; she finished strongly from a handy position going down just a nose when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres here on 2 November, and also contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She was previously unbeaten in two course attempts to 1400 metres, and is ideally drawn (3) to have first four claims. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.20.

3:19 p.m. R6 3 Stonybreck (5 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Vinnie Colgan; he got back from a wide draw (12) and finished strongly between runners for fourth in the Open Handicap 1600 metres on 26 October at Ellerslie. Contesting the $50,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres, while six of his seven wins have been recorded on poly-tracks, he brings the right form, but would prefer reasonable footing. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.80.

4:27 p.m. R8 2 Rule Of Law (4 g Justify – Repeat) – Vinnie Colgan; he began well from a wide draw (12) to situate handily in fourth and fought solidly for third in the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres here on 2 November. Contesting the corresponding event, he has been a course winner on soft ground over 1400 metres, and looks a top four prospect but will need everything to go his way from the wide draw (15). Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.10.

Riccarton: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: true. 2mls rain forecast Saturday morning. 

2:58 p.m. R6 2 Captured By Love (3 f Written Tycoon – Moldova) – Josh Parr; she staged a huge run for third in the Group 2 Hawkes Bay Guineas over 1400m on 2 October at Matamata, and did well for third on unsuitable Heavy8 footing in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial 1400m on 30 October at Te Aroha, won by subsequent Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner Savaglee. Contesting the $550,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm 1000 Guineas 1600m, she is a dual Group Two winner and a Group Three winner, she has a terrific record, and will be right in the thick of the finish from barrier six. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.30. 

Te Akau has won the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas six times, most recently with The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in 2021. 

3:33 p.m. R7 6 Malmaison (4 g Darci Brahma – Altai Rose) – Josh Parr; he made it three wins from his last four starts with a sustained finish in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 26 October, and remains in the same grade for the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Up two kilos to carry 58kg, he is very consistent, looks a top three contender from barrier six - one of three in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05.

3:33 p.m. R7 8 Insatiable (5 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Liam Riordan; he got back from his awkward draw (8) and was a touch unlucky not to win after finishing strongly for second when resuming in the Rating 75 1100 metres here last Saturday, also with Riordan aboard. Contesting the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, he brings a good course/distance record to the contest but once again he has drawn wide, as he has so often in his career, and will need  a good dose of luck from that barrier (12). Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.95.

3:33 p.m. R7 12 Bello Mio (5 g Deep Field – Bella Francesca) – Craig Grylls; the third of the tangerine trio in this race, he travelled comfortably behind a genuine pace before gaining the advantage to win the Rating 65 1400 metres on 3 November at Ashburton, and also contests the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. He meets a far stronger field, but does bring winner form into the race, however he is another stable runner that requires luck from a difficult draw (11). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.20. 

4:08 p.m. R8 3 Millefiori (6 m Iffraaj – Miss Bluebell) – Josh Parr; she raced handily but struck ground too heavy for her comfort when resuming in the Open 1000 metres on 27 October at Trentham, and is one of three stablemates contesting the $140,000 Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes over 1200m. A well-performed winner of seven races from 1100m – 1400m, she is stakes’ placed, has a solid course/distance record, and is capable of a bold performance from barrier three as long as the rain stays away. Fixed odds: $23.00 & $6.00.

4:08 p.m. R8 13 Caravella (5 m Caravaggio – Highland Lights) – Liam Riordan; she raced well to close the margin when resuming in the Listed Pegasus Stakes over 1000m here last Saturday, also with Riordan aboard, and likewise contests the $140,000 Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes. She won four 1200-metre races last season, boasts a good course record, and possesses the ability to prove competitive from barrier five. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $6.00.

4:08 p.m. R8 16 Tokyo Tycoon (4 g Satono Aladdin – All About The Coin) – Craig Grylls; he has been given time (35 days) since a satisfactory effort in the Rating 75 1400 metres in October at Ashburton. He made up plenty of ground the start prior when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres here in September. The former Karaka Million 2YO winner and Champion Two-Year-Old of the Year, he has the blinkers on, and is looking to prove competitive from barrier one in the Listed feature. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.40. 

5:20 p.m. R10 4 Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay) – Craig Grylls; she staged a terrific all-the-way win in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy 2600m here last Saturday, and is one of two for Te Akau lining up in the $400,000 Group 3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup over 3200m. Runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks as three-year-old, she looks to be peaking at right time, appears suited to the two-mile (3200m) trip, and presents as a top three prospect with a decent trip from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.30.

5:20 p.m. R10 9 Fierce Flight (6 g Flying Artie – First Bloom) – Liam Riordan; he received an economical trip when finishing fifth to stable-mate Mehzebeen (above) in the traditional lead up, the Listed Metropolitan Trophy here last Saturday, and also contests the $400,000 Group 3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup. A winner of six races from 1600m – 2200m, including the Listed Hawkes Bay Cup over 2200m, he has placed twice to 3200 metres at Group Three level, and can prove competitive if suitably improved. Fixed odds: $23.00 & $6.50.

5:55 p.m. R11 10 Mazzucato (4 m Tivaci – Yellen) – Josh Parr; one of three in the final race for Te Akau - she received a lovely trip and raced clear in fastest last 600m (32.8) – round the bend – to win the Rating 75 1400 metres here last Saturday. Remaining in same grade for the $65,000 Rating 75 1600 metres, while she is up three kilos to carry 57kg, she brings the right form to rate a top four prospect but will certainly need luck from her dreadful draw (23). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.60.

5:55 p.m. R11 14 Family Ties (5 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Michael McNab; she sustained an excellent finish down the outside for a fresh-up victory in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 3 November at Ashburton, and remains in the same grade for the $65,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. She carried 51kg when resuming, courtesy of a three kilo apprentice allowance, and while she is now assigned with 56.5kg, she is a stakes’ winning mare and is ideally drawn (3) to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.30. 

5:55 p.m. R11 19 Alminette (5 m Burgundy – High Heels) – Liam Riordan; she received an economical trip and produced a notable effort for fifth to stable-mate Family Ties (above) in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 3 November at Ashburton. Also contesting the $65,000 Rating 75 1600 metres, she brings a solid record to this contest, is stakes’ placed, and has the ability to prove competitive if she can secure some luck in the running from her difficult gate (13). Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.00. 

Caulfield: 

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 6 metres. No rain forecast.

5:45 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:45 p.m. (Vic) R7 13 Stage ‘N’ Screen (3 f Ace High – Inthespotlight) – Daniel Stackhouse; she displayed a good turn of foot on debut when winning the Maiden 1200 metres on 13 October at Cranbourne, and did very well off a tough three wide trip for fourth in the Listed Amanda Elliott Stakes over 1400m on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington. Stepping up in the A$1.5million Group 1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas over 1600m, she obviously meets top fillies of her age but is drawn (3) to receive an economical trip and has a bright future ahead of her. NZ TAB fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.60.

7:40 p.m. (NZ) - 5:40 p.m. (Vic) R10 2 Sans Doute (5 m Not A Single Doubt – My Prerogative) – Michael Dee; she was without any space when trying to come from the rear in the Group 3 Furphy Sprint over 1100m on Derby Day (2 Nov.) at Flemington, and contests the A$200,000  Group 3 Sportsbet How Now Stakes 1200m. She won four in a row last season, including the Listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Stakes over 1000m also with Dee aboard, requires good ground, and if she gets that, she is beautifully drawn (3) to bounce back. NZ TAB fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.20.