Te Akau Trans Tasman Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on Wednesday 11 March at Matamata, New Zealand and two horses entered at Sandown, Melbourne.

Matamata: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 7.5 metres. No rain forecast. 

1:35 p.m. R1 14 Summer In London (3 f Savabeel – Summer School) – Craig Grylls; she had to change ground and ran home well under the circumstances near the rail in Maiden 2100 metres on 25 February at Pukekohe. Contesting the $25,000 Maiden 2000 metres, she had finished strongly for second in the Maiden 2000 metres here on 23 January, and is perfectly drawn (2) to bring first four claims to this contest. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.90.

2:10 p.m. R2 2 Seize The Day (2 c I Am Invincible – Zimaretto) – Opie Bosson; he landed up positioned handily  in the running and actually ran the fastest last 600m (34.2) when closing solidly for third on debut in the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on 21 February at Ellerslie, also with Opie aboard. Lining up in the $25,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres, he easily won a trial prior to racing, and is expected to give a good account of himself, a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.15 & $1.20.

3:20 p.m. R4 5 Paper Moon (3 f Savabeel – Kansas) – Matt Cartwright; she got back from her outside gate and closed nicely on the heels of the leaders for fourth in trial on 24 February at Tauranga. Freshened following good effort for second after being posted three-wide on the pace in the Maiden 1000 metres on 2 January at Tauherenikau, she is more than capable of a top four finish. The challenge will be for her rider to navigate the very tricky barrier (9) - the first of three for the team in the $25,000 Maiden 3YO 1050m. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.50.  

3:20 p.m. R4 6 Presence Of Mind (3 f Fastnet Rock – Supreme Mind) – Craig Grylls; she began well from the outside gate to situate fourth in the running and finished off well for a close second in her trial on 24 February at Tauranga. Resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1050 metres, she has shown ability  and is a very good athlete who can deliver if she can likewise overcome her sticky gate (8). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.90. 

3:20 p.m. R4 10 Geneva Queen (3 f Swiss Ace – Sigiriya) – Matt Cameron; the third of our stable runners in the Maiden 3YO event, she was steadied to travel fifth and then closed the margin notably with a good finish for third in a trial on 24 February at Tauranga. On debut here, she has been very solid through her trials’ stage, comes from good family of stakes’ winners, and will be ready for her first outing - only drawback is undoubtedly her wide draw (10). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $3.30.

3:55 p.m. R5 4 Altari (4 g Savabeel – Bohemian Lily) – Craig Grylls; he closed well for fourth following an economical trip in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 22 February at Wanganui, and steps up in the $35,000 Holster Engineering / Lally & Symes South Waikato Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m). A previous winner on this course, he is one that is ideally drawn (2), and we know he has the ability to prove competitive - the first of a stable duo taking their place in this event. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.65.

3:55 p.m. R5 5 Crown Princess (4 m Embellish – Princess Davone) – Masa Hashizume; the second of the duo, she recorded a strong victory in the Rating 65 1800 metres on 22 February at Taupo, and also steps up in the South Waikato Cup. She ended her last season with solid fifth in the Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m), and while she jumps in grade, she brings winning form, and looks a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.60 & $1.25.

4:30 p.m. R6 2 Carsolio (3 g Bivouac – Whitehaven) – Craig Grylls; he fought hard with the fastest last 600m (34.7) for second in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 22 February at Taupo, and is one of three stablemates contesting the $25,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. He meets a strong field and his gate (13) is certainly no help to him. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.40.

4:30 p.m. R6 10 Viva Glam (4 m Savabeel – Style By Design) – Courtney Barnes; the second of our starters in this Rating 65 1200m, she got back on the inner, improved to fifth by the 600m, and ran home well near the rail, holding her position in a trial on 3 March at Taupo. Resuming in this, she is a past course/distance winner, has shown she can handle some give in the ground, and has draw a gate (2) that should set the scene for her to resume with encouraging performance. Fixed odds: $20.00 & $4.80.

4:30 p.m. R6 11 Avantaggia (3 f Wootton Bassett – Avantage) – Opie Bosson; she began well from barrier one to trail, quickened into contention at the 250m, and sustained a good finish for a close second in a trial on 17 February at Avondale, also with Opie aboard. The third of our trio lining up in this race, she raced well including a win among her three starts in her first campaign. Resuming here, she hasn’t fared well with the draw either (12) so will need a lot of luck from that spot. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.70. 

5:13 p.m. R7 10 Fortune Cookie (3 f Proisir – Savsensation) – Opie Bosson; she was steadied to last from the outside gate (14) and ran home well for sixth when debuting in the $25,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 25 February at Pukekohe, also in the hands of Opie. Contesting the corresponding event, she quickened stylishly to win a trial prior to racing, and looks ready to race well again but - no surprises - she requires luck from her wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

5:47 p.m. R8 6 Barnum (3 g Circus Maximus – Meir) – Ryan Elliot; he settled in fourth spot after jumping well enough, however he then tended to race keenly. He shot into the clear on straightening and ran home well for third in a trial on 3 March at Taupo, also with Elliot aboard. Resuming in the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres, he requires luck from wide draw (13) - theme of the day. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.00.

Sandown:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 12 metres. No rain forecast. 

7:25 p.m. (NZ) - 5:25 p.m. (Vic) R5 6 Get Honor (3 f Savabeel – Honor) – Logan Bates (a1.5); she recorded a smart debut victory in the Maiden 3YO Fillies 1200 metres on 21 January at Sandown, and has been given time (29 days) since running on from last in the Benchmark 62 1479 metres on 10 February at Kyneton. Contesting the A$55,000 Benchmark 64 3YO Fillies 1400 metres, she hails from the family of dual Group One winner Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), and has snared the ideal barrier (4) to be right in the thick of the action. NZ TAB fixed odds: $11.00 & $2.60.

8:30 p.m. (NZ) - 6:30 p.m. R7 6 Abrafo (3 g Per Incanto – Not A Jaffa) – Lachlan Neindorf; he remained rearward in the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) on 21 February at Caulfield, and drops in class for the A$55,000 Benchmark 66 3YO 1800 metres. He broke through at his previous start in the Maiden 1429 metres on 3 February at Seymour, and is well bred, being from the family of Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (Tavistock). While he is more than capable of a quick return to form, he requires luck from yet another wide draw (11). NZ TAB fixed odds: $26.00 & $5.50.  

Main picture - Avantaggia winning