Te Akau Trans Tasman Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Wednesday 21 October at Te Aroha, New Zealand, and two horses entered at Geelong, Victoria.

Te Aroha: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 7 metres. No rain forecast. 

2:59 p.m. R5 2 Cease And Desist (4 g Zoustar – No Evidence Needed) – Opie Bosson; he felt the pinch inside the last 200m after leadingcwhen resuming in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 3 October at Matamata, and drops in class for the $18,500 Rating 60 1600 metres. A maiden winner over 1600 metres, he has drawn the ace, and receives a good opportunity to show quick improvement. Fixed odds: $1.80 & $1.15. 

3:34 p.m. R6 1 Aerial Impact (3 g Acrobat – Iff Elle) – Opie Bosson; he travelled well in fifth, three-wide 600m, shot clear in the home straight and kept quickening with a timely effort to win a trial on 6 October at Matamata. Resuming in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1150 metres, he is from the family of Te Akau purchased and trained triple Group One winner Gingernuts (Iffraaj). He brings a solid trials’ record to the contest, has gate speed, and rates a top three chance first-up. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.60.

4:09 p.m. R7 10 Zaharias (3 f Super Seth – Green Roller) – Michael McNab; she closed strongly in the fastest last 600m (33.8) in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 9 October at Taupo, and contests the $18,500 Rating 60 1150 metres. Super consistent, she has placed in five of her six starts and rates a top three chance to break through from barrier one. Fixed odds: $2:05 & $1.20. 

Geelong:

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

3:15 p.m. (NZ) - 1:15 p.m. (Vic) R2 18 Royal Rendezvous (4 g Royal Meeting – Alana’s Party) – Blake Shinn; he circled widest from last in the fastest last 600m (33.5) for second in a Class 1 1100 metres on 28 September at Kilmore, and contests the A$50,000 Benchmark 66 1100 metres. The half-brother to Te Akau purchased and trained four-time stakes’ winner Bellatrix Star (Star Witness), he is a strong finisher but he will need a lot to go his way from his wide draw (13) - he certainly has the right man in the saddle for that. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.65.

5:00 p.m. (NZ) - 3:00 p.m. (Vic) R5 4 Meness (3 c Ghaiyyath – Snitzel’s Moon) – Michael Dee; he led before being taken on at the 800m point and fought well for second in a Maiden 1856 metres on 8 October at Kyneton. Stepping up in the A$200,000 Listed Roderick Insurance Broker 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m), he has placed in four of his five career starts, and certainly has the ability to prove competitive from barrier one. NZ TAB fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.40. 

Main picture - Cease and Desist winning