Te Akau Trans Tasman Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has 11 horses entered on Wednesday 19 February at Riccarton, and one horse at Sandown, Victoria.

Riccarton:

Weather: showery, track: Soft7, rail: out 5 metres. 3mls rain forecast Tuesday, no rain Wednesday.

2:10 p.m. R1 5 Purple Prose (3 g Embellish – Lady Masako) – Michael McNab; he remained right in the fight for a close fourth after being caught wide in the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres here on 5 February, and contests the corresponding event. Racing well, his half-sister is stable-mate Elegant Lady (Highly Recommended), the winner of four races 1900m – 2200m who is also twice stakes' placed, and  rates a top three chance if things can go his way from the outside draw (13). Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80.

2:45 p.m. R2 12 Corps D’Elite (3 f So You Think – Illuminati) – Michael McNab; she recorded two good seconds before being denied racing room, from a handy position, in the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres here on 5 February. Contesting the corresponding event, she a great receives opportunity to bounce back as a a realistic winning chance on her recent form and with the senior rider engaged. Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.75.

3:55 p.m. R4 3 Best Rose (2 f Maurice – Queen’s Legacy) – Michael McNab; she fought hard for a close second when debuting in the 2YO 800 metres here on 25 January, and contests the $25,000 2YO 1000 metres. By Maurice (Screen Hero), the 2015 Japanese Horse of the Year and Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler, she is from the family of Te Akau trained NZB Filly of the Year King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice), she will be seeking to turn the tables on her race rival Zelia (Fierce Impact), and is up to that task. Fixed odds: $2.15 & $1.10.

5:05 p.m. R6 2 Angels Wings (5 m Heroic Valour – Gowana) – Michael McNab; she produced a very good performance from back in the field for a close second to race rival Avitus (Ghibellines) in the Rating 65 1200 metres here on 25 January, and is one of two stable-mates contesting the $25,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She ran home well for third when resuming the start prior in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 27 December at New Plymouth, and c comes in with strong first four claims despite her tricky gate (11). Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.70.

5:05 p.m. R6 5 French Rose (5 m Burgundy – Paraiba) – Triston Moodley (a2); the second mare lining up for the team in this eventm, she got back last from her outside gate (12) and was finding the line well for sixth under the circumstances in the $25,000 Rating 65 1200 metres here on 5 February. She has posted three career wins over this distance, enjoys weight relief to 55kg with the apprentice engaged, and is capable of another bold performance from barrier six. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10. 

5:47 p.m. R7 5 Kabugee (5 g Satono Aladdin – Kabuki) – Michael McNab; he got back clear last from his wide draw (10) and remained rearward when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 8 February at Wingatui. Likewise contesting the $25,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, he was a course/distance winner earlier in season, and is ideally drawn (3) to show improvement. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.10.

6:25 p.m. R8 1 Elegant Lady (5 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Triston Moodley (a2); the first of three for the stable lining up in this event, she displayed enormous resolve to finish a close fourth, following an excessively tough trip, in the Marlborough Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m) here on 25 January. Contesting the $25,000 Rating 75 2000 metres, the apprentice brings her weight down to 60kg. She is a previous course/distance winner, recorded hat-trick of wins before being stakes' placed in the both the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup over 2400m and Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) last season, and is more than capable of a top three finish if things go her way from the wide gate (10). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.20.

6:25 p.m. R8 6 Family Ties (5 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Michael McNab; she received an economical trip but was held up over concluding stages when finishing fourth in the $25,000 Rating 75 2000 metres here on 5 February. She contests the corresponding event, is a stakes' winner over 1800 metres, is currently in good form, is drawn handily (5) and is another who can feature in the finish with her fighting qualities. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75.

6:25 p.m. R8 8 Beau Brummell (4 g Embellish – Fashion Forward) – Courtney Barnes; the last of the Te Akau trio in this race, he sprinted resolutely from last to win the Rating 65 1600 metres on 15 January and was not far away at all when stepping up in grade for the Rating 75 1600 metres on 25 January, both here at Riccarton. Likewise contesting the $25,000 Rating 75 2000 metres, three of his four wins have come on the course, he seems to grow another leg in the south and does have the ability to prove competitive despite his very awkward barrier (12). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.90.

7:00 p.m. R9 2 Rule Of Law (4 g Justify – Repeat) – Triston Moodley (a2); he had to work hard to lead from the outside gate (18) and showed plenty of ticker to be collared inside 200m when finishing sixth in the Rating 65 1800 metres here on 25 January. One of two in the race for the team, he contests the $25,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, has been course/distance placed here prior, in race won by Beau Brummell (above), but is yet another who has been harshly treated by the draw (19). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.70.   

7:00 p.m. R9 5 Star In The Sky (5 m Savabeel – Pikari Star) – Michael McNab; she found line strongly for third when resuming in the Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 6 January at Otaki, but unfortunately missed start and suffered cardiac arrhythmia in the Rating 65 1400 metres here on 25 January. The winner of three races from 1400m – 2200m, she is looking to get her campaign back on track in the $25,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.20. 

Sandown:

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

8:30 p.m. (NZ) ~ 6:30 p.m. (VIC) R6 6 Exuberance (3 f Savabeel – Miss Opulence) – Blake Shinn; she did well working through from last to win a trial on 3 February at Cranbourne, and resumes in the A$55,000 Benchmark 64 1200 metres, for three-year-old fillies. She won the Maiden 1200 metres on 2 October at Cranbourne, was spelled following the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) on 19 October at Caulfield.  While she is destined for more distance, she does perform well in a fresh state and has the ability to prove competitive. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.60.