Te Akau Trans Tasman Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Thursday 2 January at Tauranga, and one horse at Yarra Valley, Victoria.?

Tauranga:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 6 metres 1000m – 400m, remainder out 4 metres. No rain forecast. 

1:40 p.m. R1 1 Puketiro (5 m Savabeel – Matakana) – Craig Grylls; she quickened well for a close second in a trial on 18 November at Waipa, and ran on without threatening when resuming in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 28 November at Otaki. Given time (35 days), she drops in grade for the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres, is a course/distance winner at her only attempt, and rates a top three chance in small field that has three stable runners lining up. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.30. 

1:40 p.m. R1 2 Baronet (5 g Contributer – Alpha Dame) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a2); he settled behind the two leaders in third, stayed near the rail, and ran on well to photo-finish for third in a trial on 17 December at Pukekohe. Resuming in the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres, he has weight relief to 56kg, is also a course/distance winner on heavy ground, and is capable of commencing with a bold showing. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.50. 

1:40 p.m. R1 6 Not Straight Laced (4 m Turn Me Loose – Clos De Tart) – Matt Cartwright; she was held together after being back and wide from an outside gate in a trial on 17 December at Pukekohe, and resumes in the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres. She ended her previous campaign with back-to-back wins over 1200 metres at Riccarton (poly-track), and while she steps up in grade she is capable of proving competitive first-up - her sister was a winner in the past week. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.65. 

2:45 p.m. R3 14 Luvabeel (3 f Savabeel – O’Lovely) – Craig Grylls; she settled back third last, was eight lengths off the leaders at the 600m, tracked up wide into the straight and closed the margin nicely without being pressured in a trial on 17 December at Pukekohe. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres, she is experienced through the trials’ stage, possesses an outstanding pedigree, and has opportunity to commence her racing career in good fashion from barrier six. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50. 

4:34 p.m. R6 10 Top Shelf (3 f Savabeel – Saoirse) – Craig Grylls; she produced a solid debut performance for fourth in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 12 December at Ellerslie, and contests the $18,500 Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres. The sister to dual Group Two winner and former stable-mate Brando, who raced well at Tauranga, she has been training well but needs a lot to go her way from her wide alley (11).  Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.35. 

5:12 p.m. R7 5 The Sky Above (4 m American Pharoah – Blue Blue Sky) – Matt Cartwright; she spelled after resuming over 1300 metres in October at Taupo, and resumes without a trial in the $18,500 Maiden 1200 metres. Placed in five of seven starts to 1750 metres last season, as he has been coming to hand nicely and will be looking for a solid fresh up performance. - one of two lining up for the team.  Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.45.   

5:12 p.m. R7 7 Santarelli (4 m Darci Brahma – Pennacchio) – Craig Grylls; she quickened stylishly to win her trial on 26 November at Taupo, and debuted with an encouraging performance for third in the Maiden 1200 metres on 12 December at Ellerslie. Her dual listed winning dam impressed during a career of eight wins from 1200m – 1600m, and this mare is ideally drawn (1) to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.45.   

5:47 p.m. R8 8 Lightning Dream (4 m Rip Van Winkle – Alana’s Dream) – Matt Cartwright; she went forward to find a nice spot on the outer, pushed up inside the 600m, but became detached in the straight when trialing on 17 December at Pukekohe. Resuming in the $18,500 Rating 65 1400 metres, she capped good form with a strong Maiden win over 1600 metres in April at Matamata, is a half-sister to Bellatrix Star, a triple stakes’ winner for stable this season in Melbourne, has the ability to act well in a fresh state and is perfectly drawn (4). Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.20.

Yarra Valley:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast Friday. 

6:00 p.m. (NZ) ! 4:00 p.m. (Vic)  R6 2 Scottie’s Legacy (4 m Almanzor – Kay’s Legacy) – Logan Bates (a2); she was given a gun ride when winning the Maiden 1600 metres on 24 November at Kilmore by two lengths, and finished strongly for second in the Benchmark 64 2000 metres on 11 December at Mornington. Contesting the A$35,000 Benchmark 58 1950 metres, she enjoys weight relief to 58kg, and is ideally drawn (4) to be capable of a top three finish. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $1.65 & $1.10.