Te Akau Trans Tasman Melbourne Cup Day Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 3 November, at Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand, and four horses entered at Flemington (Melbourne), and. Echuca and Wangaratta (Victoria).

Ellerslie: 

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

12:57 p.m. R2 12 Woman In Charge (4 m Farnan – Rosetta) – Opie Bosson; she secured a lovely position in fourth, travelled well turning for home and remained nicely held together while holding spot when trialling on 22 October at Waipa. Resuming in the $40,000 Maiden 1200 metres, she has ability having placed in three of her four starts, she has the ability to race well fresh, and is ideally drawn (2) to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.20.

4:03 p.m. R7 10 El Viento (6 g El Roca – Mandeville) – Michael McNab; he was denied room at a vital stage in the home straight following an economical run when resuming in the Open Handicap 1400 metres here on 17 October, and contests the $75,000 Open Handicap 1500 metres. He ended his previous campaign finishing third here over 1600 metres, and rates a top four chance with decent trip from barrier eight, and being on his best behaviour. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15.

4:41 p.m. R8 10 Top Shelf (5 m Savabeel – Saoirse) – Michael McNab; she provided Michael McNab with his 1000th New Zealand win with an impressive performance in the Open Handicap 1600 metres here on 17 October, depending some of today’s rivals, and contests the $150,000 Group 3 Elsdon Park Balmerino Stakes (2000m). She boasts a very good course record, has been runner-up over distance in the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m), and deserves her high level of support.  Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.30.

6:02 p.m. R10 13 Thumbelina (4 m Per Incanto – Matauri) – Michael McNab; she found the line from last in the fastest last 600m (34.0) on day when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 3 October at Matamata, has been given time (31 days), and contests the $75,000 Rating 75 1300 metres. She ended her previous campaign with an impressive course win over 1200 metres, and looks a top three prospect from barrier one. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70. 

Flemington:

Weather: showers, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres. 25mls rain forecast Monday and showers Tuesday morning. 

5:50 p.m. (NZ) - 3:50 p.m. (Vic) R8 7 Tolaga Bay (3 f Alabama Express – Camila Lucinda) – Craig Williams; she quickened well following an economical trip to win a jump out on 19 October at Cranbourne, and contests the A$200,000 Listed Crown Amanda Elliot (1400m). She contested Group Two races after winning her first two starts, does have the talent to prove competitive, but requires luck from her nightmare draw (15). NZ TAB fixed odds: $26.00 & $5.50. 

Echuca:

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

5:26 p.m. (NZ) - 3:26 p.m. (Vic) R4 13 Kiss Me In Paris (3 f Capitalist – Fromparis Withlove) – Damien Thornton; she yielded inside the final 200m after racing outside the leader when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1000 metres on 9 October at Ballarat, and contests the A$32,000 Maiden 1000 metres. This is a good opportunity for her to show improvement if she secures a decent trip from barrier nine. 

7:34 p.m. (NZ time) R7 1 Astari (4 g Starspangledbanner – Belzella) – Liana Wood (a3); he found the  line boldly for fourth after being shunted wide when turning for home in the A$22,000 Benchmark 56 1000 metres on 12 October at Bairnsdale, also with Liana aboard, and contests the corresponding event. The pair recorded a course/distance victory in the same grade three starts ago, he will relish the weight relief to 60.5kg, and shapes to prove competitive from barrier five. 

Wangaratta:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. 8mls rain forecast Monday and showers Tuesday morning.

2:15 p.m. (NZ) - 12:15 p.m. (Vic) R1 4 Naval Command (3 c Home Affairs – Sea Siren) – Dylan Dunn; he finished solidly from a handy position for third in a jump out on 19 October at Cranbourne, and resumes in the A$20,000 Maiden 1300 metres. He fought well for third in his sole start as two-year-old, and is a beautifully bred colt. Having drawn (3) he should receive an economical trip, and rates a top three chance first-up.