Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has nine horses entered on Saturday 12 September: Riccarton in New Zealand, and two horses entered at Flemington, Melbourne.

Riccarton: 

Weather: fine, track: Heavy10, rail: out 7 metres. No rain forecast. 

12:05 p.m. R1 15 Never Too Much (3 g Rubick – Rebel’s Choice) – Wiremu Pinn; he began smartly to lead and drew out to stylishly win a trial on 25 August at Ashburton. Resuming in the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres, he placed in three of four starts as two-year-old, including running second to stable-mate Enchantment (Hello Youmzain) here in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m). He appears ideally placed but he will require luck from his nasty draw (15) and there is a question mark over the prevailing track conditions.  Fixed odds: $1.70 & $1.15.

12:38 p.m. R2 7 Marokopa Falls (4 m Hellbent – Beside You) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she found the line solidly for fourth after being held up behind the leaders when resuming in the Rating 65 1000 metres here on 29 August, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. A debut winner over 1000 metres, she is also dual stakes’ placed, likes this course, and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.75.

2:18 p.m. R5 7 Balance Of Power (6 g Almanzor – Respin) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he fought well for third to race rival Miss Seth (Super Seth) in the Rating 75 1800 metres here on 29 August, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 2000 metres. With four wins to 2000 metres on his CV, three on soft ground, he brings the right form and ideally drawn (4) to again prove competitive. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95.

2:55 p.m. R6 2 Insatiable (7 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Masa Hashizume; he was unable to quicken from the rear on Heavy8 footing when resuming in the Open Handicap 1000 metres here on 29 August, and is one of three runners for the stable in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres. Four of his seven career wins have come here at Riccarton, and he just loves this track and our southern stable. He is a horse that is capable of quick improvement, but the concern again will be how the track conditions present on race day. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.80. 

2:55 p.m. R6 5 Trobriand (6 g Kermadec – Arboreal) – Wiremu Pinn; he ran fastest last 600m (32.8) for third when resuming in the Open Handicap 1000 metres here on 29 August, and is the second stable starter in the Open Handicap 1200 metres. He is a boy who has fashioned a good course record on heavy ground including a win and second in the Listed Stewards’ Stakes (1200m), and can deliver a top three result. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.80.

3:30 p.m. R7 1 Sweetest Thing (3 f Hello Youmzain – Ocean Drive) – Wiremu Pinn; she trailed in third, was clear nearest the markers in the home straight and finished strongly to win a trial on 25 August at Ashburton. Having her first start for stable, she comes fresh-up in the $80,000 Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m). She was twice stakes’ placed last season, including finishing second to Te Akau-trained Seize The Day (I Am Invincible) in Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), also with Wiremu aboard, and she should be right in this if she handles the track conditions - the first of two contesting the stakes’ race for the team. Fixed odds: $1.95 & $1.20.

3:30 p.m. R7 8 Sword Of Stars (3 f Sword Of State – Angelica Hall) – Masa Hashizume; she settled back in bunched field, three-wide with cover, widest rounding home turn and quickened well for second in trial on 25 August at Waipa. Resuming in the $80,000 NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m), placed in two of four starts last season and brings right credentials to prove competitive with luck from outside draw (14). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.45.

Te Akau has won the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes four times, with full sisters Windborne and Darci’s Dream in 2015 and 2014, and One Kiss (2022) and Viva Vienna (2023). 

4:08 p.m. R8 10 Court Of Appeal (6 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she ran on without being able to quicken on sticky Heavy8 footing when resuming in the Open Handicap 1600 metres here on 29 August, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1800 metres. The winner of five races to 2200 metres, she has previously been a course winner on Heavy8, and she is certainly capable of further improvement if appreciative of the going. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.35. 

4:45 p.m. R9 5 Hakkinen (5 g Savabeel – Miss Scandinavia) – Wiremu Pinn; he settled back from his outside draw, was six lengths off the leaders at the 600m, quickened to sit outside in the straight and finished strongly for a smart trial win on 25 August at Ashburton. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, he was a stylish Maiden winner over 1600 metres, and finished fourth in both there Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). There is a big question as to whether he will handle the track conditions, but we need to get his campaign under way.  His is a solid performer and is capable of bold first-up performance with luck from the outside gate (13). Fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.55.    

Flemington:

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

2:40 p.m. (NZ) - 12:40 p.m. (Vic) R2 5 Lara Antipova (3 f Russian Revolution – Artistic Lass) – Mark Zahra; she finished ninth after travelling wide and being buffeted in the home straight when resuming in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) on 15 August at Caulfield. Contesting the A$175,000 Listed Michael Moroney (1400m), she showed class winning all four starts last season, has just been named NZ Champion Two-Year-Old, and receives the opportunity to atone up in trip in what is a very strong field. NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.45. 

3:15 p.m. (NZ) - 1:15 p.m. (Vic) R3 10 I Am Aria (3 f I Am Invincible – Talaria) – Michael Dee; she scored comfortably as short-priced favourite when resuming in Maiden 3YO Fillies 1000 metres on 12 August at Bendigo, also with the former Te Akau apprentice aboard, and had a quiet 800-metre jump out on 31 August at Cranbourne. Contesting the A$200,000 Group 3 Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m), she debuted last season with a terrific effort for second in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1000m), and fought hard for third in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m). We thin k a lot of this talented filly and she ideally drawn (3) to race well in what has finished up a red hot field. NZ TAB fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50.

Main picture - I Am Aria winning her Maiden