Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 19 horses entered on Saturday 18 September: Hastings, Riccarton, Randwick and Caulfield.

Hastings:

Weather: overcast, track: Slow8, rail: true. Showers forecast.

2.07 p.m. R5 1 I Wish I Win  (3 g Savabeel - Make A Wish) - Craig Grylls; finished second to stable-mate On the Bubbles (Brazen Beau) in the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), after winning on debut last season, and resumed running second to stable-mate Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the Northland Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 4 September at Te Rapa. He warrants favouritism in the $60,000 El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $1.90 & $1.15.

2.07 p.m. R5 4 Sophisticardo  (3 g Burgundy - Glamorous Girl) - Danielle Johnson; won stylishly on debut before notable fourth to stable-mate On the Bubbles (Brazen Beau) in the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) last season, and made good ground when resuming in the Rating 65 970 metres on 2 September at Cambridge (poly-track). From barrier two, with visor blinkers on, he rates a top three chance in the $60,000 El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.00.

3.16 p.m. R7 1 Imperatriz (3 f I Am Invincible - Berimbau) - Danielle Johnson; made it consecutive wins as a two-year-old in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, and resumed beating stable-mate I Wish I Win, above, in the Northland Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 4 September at Te Rapa. A very smart filly, she appears tough from barrier one in the $80,000 Hawkes Bay Breeders' Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). Fixed odds: $1.90 & $1.25.

3.50 p.m. R8 7 Phantom Witness  (5 g Star Witness - Fandom) - Craig Grylls; winner of two, two seconds, from six starts, and never further back than fourth, he resumes in the $40,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. Ideally drawn (4), he carries his share of weight (59kg) but is naturally athletic and has the ability to threaten if appreciative of the course at his first attempt. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

3.50 p.m. R8 8 Miss Aotearoa (4 m Per Incanto - Danex) - Troy Harris; made it two from two last season when winning the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) here last year. A mare that uses herself well, she quickened home strongly for second when trialling on 3 September at Cambridge, and is capable of a bold first-up effort in the $40,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

3.50 p.m. R8 16 Vamos Bebe (5 m I Am Invincible - Hurtle Myrtle) - Danielle Johnson; converted consecutive wins in the Special Conditions 1200 metres at the corresponding meet last year, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. She showed her class when stretching clear for a smart trial win on 6 September at Cambridge, and rates a top three chance with luck from draw (14). Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.35.

4.25 p.m. R9 2 Prise De Fer  (6 g Savabeel - Foiled) - Troy Harris; found the line very well for third when resuming in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 4 September at Te Rapa, and steps up in the $220,000 Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m). A dual winner at the distance, and successful in the Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m), he has top three prospects with a decent trip from barrier eight. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

4.25 p.m. R9 13 Savy Yong Blonk  (6 m Savabeel - Ampin) - Lisa Allpress; spelled after finishing third in the Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) and following two trials she resumes in the $220,000 Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m). A dual Group 3 winner to 2400 metres and Group 2 placed, she has won twice over 1400 metres but has drawn wide (13). Look for her running home strongly. Fixed odds: $41.00 & $7.50.

Riccarton:

Weather: cloudy, track: Dead6, rail: out 10 metres from 1100m to winning post, remainder out 7 metres. No rain forecast.

2.58 p.m. R6 4 Radegast  (5 g Savabeel - Marveen) - Krishna Mudhoo; won and twice placed during the last campaign, he quickened well to close the margin when trialling on 3 September at Cambridge. Shown to act fresh, he requires luck from barrier 16 in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

2.58 p.m. R6 9 Fashion Shoot (4 m Savabeel - High Fashion) - Rohan Mudhoo (a1); brought good form south before fifth here in the War Decree Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and spelled after having little luck in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), won by stable-mate Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma). She lifted very well to win when trialling on 3 September at Cambridge, and rates a top three chance fresh-up in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00.

3.33 p.m. R7 2 Need I Say More  (4 g No Nay Never - Bo Bardi) - Rohan Mudhoo (a1); winner of seven (six stakes wins) from nine starts, he spelled after winning the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) in March at Trentham. Resuming in the $40,000 Open 1200 metres, he has drawn wide (12) with plenty of weight (60kg) to carry, but has a record that makes him hard to beat. Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.35.

3.33 p.m. R7 4 Markus Aurelius  (5 g Ghibellines - Evancho) - Jason Laking; winner of six from 12, including a hat-trick earlier this year, and very good here at Riccarton, he is destined for further but is capable of a bold first-up performance in the $40,000 Open 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70.

3.33 p.m. R7 8 Summer Monsoon (7 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Courtney Barnes; looked good winning a recent trial and resumes in the $40,000 Open 1200 metres. A course/distance winner during Cup Week last November, he races well here and can show up with the right trip from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70.

4.08 p.m. R8 4 Synchronize  (3 f Savabeel - Splits) - Rohan Mudhoo (a); was unbeaten in three trials before being untroubled to win the Maiden 2YO 1050 metres on 31 March at Matamata. She quickened through on the inner to win well when trialling on 3 September at Cambridge, and rates a top three chance with any luck from a wide draw (18) in the $60,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.60.

4.08 p.m. R8 8 Irish Red (3 f Burgundy - Niamh Elizabeth) - Krishna Mudhoo; was eye-catching when placed in both two-year-old starts, and ran on well for third when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 970 metres on 2 September at Cambridge (poly-track). She too has to navigate a wide draw (15) in the $60,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m), but brings good form. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

5.23 p.m. R10 15 Zouluminous (5 m Zoustar - Luminous Harmony) - Rohan Mudhoo (a1); ended her campaign finishing third over 2100 metres in May at Te Rapa, and worked home solidly over a sprint trip when trialling on 3 September at Cambridge. A consistent dual winner, she resumes in the $30,000 Rating 74 1400 metres and should race well before stepping up in distance. Fixed odds: $17.00 & $5.00.

Randwick:

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 7 metres from 1600m to winning post, remainder out 4 metres. No rain forecast.

4.00 p.m. (NZ time) R5 4 Amarelinha (4 m Savabeel - Hopscotch) - Kerrin McEvoy; New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, winner of five from seven, she followed two Group 2 wins and a Group 3 win with victory in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) and ended her campaign finishing fourth here in the Australian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). She trialled twice before returning to Sydney, trialled well for third there since, and resumes in the $160,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap (Gr. 3, 1400m), won last year by stable-mate Probabeel (Savabeel). She has a great record and should race well from barrier four. NZ TAB fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70.

Caulfield:

Weather: showery, track: Good4, rail: out 6 metres from 1600m to winning post, remainder out 4 metres. Showers forecast.

6.50 p.m. (NZ time) R8 2 Probabeel (5 m Savabeel - Far Fetched) - Brett Prebble; resumed with victory here in the W.W. Cockram Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 28 August, and steps up in the $1m Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m). Already a triple Group 1 winner in Australia: Surround Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), Futurity Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), and Epsom Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m), she is unbeaten in three starts on the course, and is an outstanding race mare who is ideally drawn (2). NZ TAB fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.

7.25 p.m. (NZ time) R9 2 Kahma Lass  (4 m Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass) - Brett Prebble; unleashed a big finish to win convincingly in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 14 November at Riccarton - on a day Jamie Richards trained six winners. She lifted under a hand ride to win nicely when trialling on 3 August at Ellerslie, and resumes in the $200,000 How Now Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200 metres). She has drawn awkwardly (12), but she is classy. NZ TAB fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.50.