Te Akau Trans Tasman Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has two horses entered on Wednesday 8 July at Riccarton (poly-track), Christchurch and one horse entered at Sandown, Melbourne.

Riccarton: 

Weather: showery, track: poly-track, rail: true. 

3:54 p.m. R9 2 Vivacious (5 m Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Triston Moodley (a1); she closed solidly from three back on the outer for fourth in a sit and sprint affair in the Open Handicap 1200 metres here (poly-track) on 25 June, also with Tristan Moodley aboard. Dropping in grade for the $32,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, she is both a course and distance winner, with three wins over 1400 metres. She looks a top four prospect if she can secure a decent trip from barrier nine - the first of two stablemates lining up in the event. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.60.

3:54 p.m. R9 11 Queen Of Naples (4 m Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time) – Kavish Chowdhoory; she sustained a strong run after circling from the back in field to finish second to stable-mate Purple Prose (Embellish) in the Rating 75 1600 metres here on 10 June. She too contests the Rating 75 1400 metres. The winner of a Pearl Bonus Series race over 1400 metres here four starts ago, all three of her wins have come on the Riccarton poly-track, and she is ideally drawn (4) to also rate a top four chance. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.95.

Sandown:

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy8, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

5:55 p.m.  (NZ) - 3:55 p.m. (Vic) R7 4 Stage ‘n’ Screen (4 m Ace High – Inthespotlight) – Logan Bates (a1.5); she ran home solidly for third after racing handily when resuming in the Benchmark 78 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres on 8 June at Mornington, and contests the A$50,000 Benchmark 74 1200 metres. She has won previously on this course over 1400 metres, and in fact two of her three wins have been over 1200 metres. She’s a talented mare who has fashioned a consistently good record, and having handled yielding ground in the past, she brings the ability to prove competitive - but requires luck from her wide gate (11). NZ TAB fixed odds: $19.00 & $4.50.

Main picture - Stage 'N' Screen winning