Te Akau Trans Tasman Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Wednesday 25 February at Pukekohe, New Zealand and one horse entered at Sandown, Melbourne.

Pukekohe:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 7 metres. No rain forecast. 

3:10 p.m. R3 12 She Suits Herself (3 f Savile Row – Sleepy Girl) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she appreciated the increased distance and Heavy10 footing when finishing a close second in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) on 24 January at New Plymouth, and followed that with a brave run for fourth on Soft5 going in the Maiden 2100 metres on 5 February at Tauranga. The first of two stablemates contesting the $25,000 Maiden 2100 metres, she has the benefit of weight relief to 54kg and looks a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.65. 

3:10 p.m. R3 13 Summer In London (3 f Savabeel – Summer School) – Craig Grylls; she finished strongly for second from a handy position in the Maiden 2000 metres on 23 January at Matamata, won by stable-mate Born To Be Royal, before finishing back when stepping up in class for the Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) on 31 January at Trentham. Also lining up in the Maiden 2100 metres, she too is handily drawn (3), blinkers on, and this is the perfect opportunity for her to bounce back. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.

3:45 p.m. R4 14 Zambrosia (3 f Zoustar – Positive Problems) – Opie Bosson; she found the line for fifth after securing a good position in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 28 January at Waverley, and contests the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres. She has been a filly that has needed time and has been gaining experience and trending the right way in two starts. From barrier four, she rates a good first four prospect.  Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.80.

4:24 p.m. R5 14 Fortune Cookie (3 f Proisir – Savsensation) – Opie Bosson; she was allowed to find her feet at the rear and was held together inside the final 200m while running on for fifth in a trial on 10 February at Ellerslie. Debuting in the $25,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses), she quickened down the outside to stylishly win a trial here in December. While she is a promising filly, the wide draw (17) is definitely a hindrance for her first race day outing. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

4:59 p.m. R6 10 Thumbelina (3 f Per Incanto – Matauri) – Craig Grylls; things just didn’t go right for her last time and she received a leg laceration when resuming in the Maiden 1100 metres on 16 January at Te Rapa, but has since finished off pleasingly in a quiet trial on 10 February at Ellerslie. Contesting the $25,000 Maiden 1100 metres, she is from a good family, and while we expect to see a marked improvement given the circumstances last time, her chances are not helped by her wide gate (13). Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.95.

6:11 p.m. R8 11 Petite Rocher (3 f Grunt – Little Rock) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she finished seventh after an economical trip in the Maiden 1400 metres on 30 January at Te Rapa, and contests the $25,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. The apprentice aboard sees her weight drop to just 53.5kg, and the blinkers go on. She has been a two-time trial winner, and is looking to improve but she’s another with an awkward barrier to overcome first (12). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.70.

6:46 p.m. R9 1 Top Shelf (4 m Savabeel – Saoirse) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she did well after being caught wide when she found the line for third in the Rating 65 1500 metres on 12 December at Tauranga, also with Hassman aboard. She then ran home nicely for a staying mare over a sprint distance in a trial on 11 February at Te Aroha. Contesting the $25,000 Rating 65 1500 metres, she is beautifully bred, has been stakes’ placed, has weight relief to 59.5kg, and rates a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.95.

Sandown:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 9 metres. 5mls rain forecast Tuesday and no rain Wednesday. 

6:50 p.m. (NZ) - 4:50 p.m. (Vic) R3 1 Mcwoody (3 c Alabama Express – Queen Ouija) – Craig Williams; he circled from last with an eye-catching finish for second in a jump out on 16 February at Cranbourne, also with Williams aboard, and resumes in the A$55,000 Benchmark 65 3YO 1500 metres. Spelled after contesting the Group 3 Sportsbet Classic (2000m) and Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at just his second and third starts, he was a debut winner over a mile, and shapes to race well from barrier three. NZ TAB fixed odds: $16.00 & $3.90.  

Main picture - Top Shelf winning