Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Saturday 22 May: Te Rapa and Doomben (Brisbane) -

Te Rapa:

Weather: overcast, track: Slow8, rail: out 11 metres. No rain forecast.

12.13 p.m. R2 3 Bak Da Master (6 g Mastercraftsman - Bak Da Princess) - Michael Roustoby; measured the fences well and had too much in reserve when winning the Open Hurdle (2800m) here a fortnight ago. He appears set to race well in the $50,000 Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (Prestige, 3200m). Fixed odds: $2.30 & $1.25.

2.28 p.m. R6 11 Mazzuro (6 g Rip Van Winkle - Mini Pearl) - Vinnie Colgan; closed boldly from last when resuming here in the Rating 74 1600 metres on 17 April and stayed on from last in the Rating 74 1600 metres on 1 May at Hastings. A course/distance winner, he should appreciate stepping up in the $27,500 Rating 74 2100 metres. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20.

2.28 p.m. R6 14 Zouluminous (4 m Zoustar - Luminous Harmony) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); finished third to stable-mate Military Step (Tavistock) in the South Waikato Cup (Open, 2000m) in March at Matamata, and claimed late by stable-mate and subsequent winner  Leaderboard (Street Cry) in the Rating 74 2000 metres on the same course in April. She fought well for sixth when dropping back in distance for the Woodville/Pahiatua Cup (Rating 74 1600 metres) on 9 May, and requires luck from a wide barrier (16) in the $27,500 Rating 74 2100 metres. Fixed odds: $17.00 & $5.00.

3.03 p.m. R7 5 Devoted (3 g Contributer - Mapmaker) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); finished strongly to win when trialling on 6 April at Ellerslie, and drew out to win comfortably on debut in the Maiden 1600 metres on 26 April at Avondale. Ideally drawn (4), with weight relief to 56kg, he faces a tougher assignment in the $22,500 Rating 65 1600 metres but should race well if further improved. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

3.38 p.m. R8 9 Summer Monsoon (6 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); stepped in grade for the $32,500 Open 1400 metres and quickened boldly to hold the rivals at bay here on 1 May, with Kamaruddin aboard. Now the winner of two from three on the course, he increases weight from 51kg to 54kg but shapes to race well again from barrier seven in the corresponding event. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80.

3.38 p.m. R8 11 Equinox (4 g Exceed and Excel - Our Ella Belle) - Sam Weatherley; found the line with a notable effort for fifth in the $32,500 Open 1400 metres on 1 May at Hastings, and contests the corresponding event. He is capable of another bold performance with luck from barrier 11. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.00.

Doomben:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 2 metres. Showers forecast.

5.18 p.m. (NZ time) R7 10 Melody Belle (6 m Commands - Meleka Belle) - Opie Bosson; is having her final ever race in the weight-for-age $700,000 Doomben Cup (Gr. 1, 2000m), before being sold next Tuesday (25 May) at the 2021 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale. The former Champion Two-Year-Old, reigning dual Horse of the Year, and national record-holder with 14 Group Ones has scored 18 of her 19 career victories in stakes races. Trainer Jamie Richards was happy with her gallop on Tuesday, ahead of the swansong. NZ TAB fixed odds: $15.00 & $3.70.