Te Akau Trans Tasman Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Wednesday 21 May at Cambridge (poly-track), and one horse at Sandown, Victoria.

Cambridge: 

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

11:55 a.m. R2 1 Stonybreck (5 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Tayla Melvin (a4); he raced well for a close third in a strong field for the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 26 April at Te Rapa, and drops in grade for the $17,000 Rating 85 1550 metres. He brings outstanding course/distance stats to the contest, winning five of eight starts on the course and three from four over 1550 metres. It’s a plus for him to have the weight relief to 60kg and he deserves to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.90 & $1.40.

12:31 p.m. R3 10 Shiatsu (3 f Swiss Ace – Perform A Miracle) – Craig Grylls; she secured an economical trip on the inner, travelled up well approaching the home turn, popped off the rail mid-straight, and finished solidly for second in trial here on 6 May. Debuting in the $17,000 Maiden 1300 metres, she has certainly been a solid performer through her trials’ stage. She is the half-sister to two-year-old winner and stakes’ placed Believe In Magic (Not A Single Doubt), and is ideally drawn (3) to race well first-up. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.80.

3:29 p.m. R8 7 Brazen Affair (3 f Brazen Beau – Southern Romance) – Craig Grylls; she got back, improved widest rounding the home turn, swept up to lead at the 300m and went on to nicely win her trial on 29 April at Pukekohe. Resuming in the $17,000 Rating 68 970 metres, she spelled after easily winning her Maiden in December at Taupo, finished third here on debut as a two-year-old, and  has a handy draw (4) to be able to make her presence felt in this line-up. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.80.

4:04 p.m. R9 5 Hayate (6 m Maurice – Vamoose) – Craig Grylls; she fought well for fourth on a downgraded Heavy9 footing in the Rating 60 2100 metres on 21 April at Waverley, and contests the $17,000 Rating 65 2000 metres. Racing solidly, she brings good fitness levels, and was a course/distance winner in May last year. She also has won twice on this course and from barrier three, can be right in this with the country’s leading rider aboard. Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.60. 

Sandown:

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

3:00 p.m. R2 9 Samudra (2 f Snitzel – Pippie) – Ben Melham; she raced wide near the pace from the outside gate and quickened late in classy fashion to win a jump out on 26 April at Cranbourne. Debuting in the A$50,000 2YO 1000 metres, she has looked smart winning all three jump outs, boasts a terrific pedigree being out of dual Group One sprint winner Pippie (Written Tycoon), and is beautifully drawn (3) to present as a top three chance at her first race day appearance. NZ TAB fixed odds: $1.90 & $1.10.