Te Akau Trans Tasman Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Wednesday 11 November at Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand, and two horses entered at Ballarat, Victoria.

Riccarton:

Weather: raining, track: Soft7, rail: true. 9mls rain forecast Tuesday and no rain Wednesday.

4:13 p.m. R6 9 Paper Moon (4 m Savabeel – Kansas) – Michael McNab; she only yielded inside the 200m after racing keenly on pace when resuming in Rating 65 1200 metres here on 24 October, won by stable-mate Queen’s Evidence (King’s Legacy), and contests the $65,000 Rating 65 1000 metres. She found plenty to win a Pearl Series Maiden 1200 metres in May, and has a good opportunity to seek cover from barrier six and find the line strongly . Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.70.

4:48 p.m. R7 1 Out Of The Blue (3 g Tivaci – Cornflower Blue) – Michael McNab; he was allowed to find his feet back on the inner, stayed near the rail and finished well for third in a trial on 29 October at Avondale. Resuming in the $100,000 3YO 1200 metres, he has been Group and Listed placed after impressively winning his first two starts here last season, and and has the ability to prove competitive with a good dose of luck from his outside gate (14). Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.70.

5:59 p.m. R9 3 Stonybreck (7 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Masa Hashizume; he remained back after steadying from his outside gate (14) in the Open Handicap 1600 metres on 10 October at Ashburton, and is one of two starters for the stable in the $250,000 Group 3 TAB Mile (1600m). he has assembled a fine record of nine wins to 1600 metres, is a course/distance winner, the blinkers are on but requires luck from yet another wide draw (14). Fixed odds: $27.00 & $6.00.

5:59 p.m. R9 11 Hakkinen (5 g Savabeel – Miss Scandinavia) – Michael McNab; he closed strongly in the fastest last 600m (33.4) for second in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) here on 24 October, won by race rival Sir Albert (Savabeel), and also contests the TAB Mile. He has delivered two impressive course victories to 1600 metres here in his lead up, is racing in career best form and rates a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.40.

6:34 p.m. R10 1 Bellish Boy (4 g Embellish – Stylish Achiever) – Michael McNab; he easily (4.5 lengths) won a Maiden 1400 metres on 10 October at Ashburton, and contests the $65,000 Special Conditions 1600 metres. He raced competitively in his first campaign, has struck winning foom, and from barrier seven, should be right in the thick of this.  Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.60. 

Ballarat:

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 9 metres. No rain forecast.

6:50 p.m. (NZ) 4:50 p.m. (Vic) R3 1 Harry Met Sally (3 g Yes Yes Yes – Agueda) – Blake Shinn; he found the line solidly for fifth after being back and wide in a jump out on 2 November at Cranbourne, and resumes in the A$42,500 Benchmark 64 3YO 1100 metres. He raced well during HIS previous campaign, including a course win over 1200 metres, and appears poised to commence his new campaign with a good effort from barrier six. NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.45.

9:30 p.m. (NZ) - 7:30 p.m. (Vic) R8 8 Lucky Single (4 m Lucky Vega – Single In London) – Logan Bates (a); she sustained a strong gallop for second after sharing the pace in a jump out on 2 November at Cranbourne, also with Bates aboard, and resumes in the A$35,000 Benchmark 62 1200 metres. She followed her debut second with a gutsy win over 1200 metres during three starts in her first campaign, and shapes to race well with a decent trip from barrier nine. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.60. 

Main picture - Hakkinen winning