Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 20 horses entered on Saturday 16 October: Hastings, Ashburton, and Caulfield (Melbourne).

Hastings:

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

2.03 p.m. R4 2 Palamos (3 c Extreme Choice - Unrevealed) - Troy Harris; won both starts as two-year-old, and peaked late for fifth after working early when resuming in 3YO 1200 metres on 1 October at Te Rapa. He rates a top three prospect from barrier five in $50,000 3YO 1300 metres. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.50.

2.03 p.m. R4 5 Pure Imagination (3 c Darci Brahma - Granadilla) - Craig Grylls; looked good winning on debut in Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 4 September at Te Rapa, but was not the same in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 22 September at Cambridge (poly-track). Back on the turf in $50,000 3YO 1300 metres, with blinkers on, he receives opportunity to bounce back. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.00.

2.40 p.m. R5 5 Maasir (4 g Proisir - Maakel) - Danielle Johnson; took inside passage from last to win when resuming in Rating 74 1300 metres on 17 September at Taupo, running the fastest last 600m (34.7) on the day, and steps up in $50,000 Rating 74 1600 metres. He recorded consecutive wins to 2100 metres at Te Rapa, ending his previous campaign, and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

2.40 p.m. R5 8 Shezathinka (6 m So You Think - Headsup) - Troy Harris; peaked after leading to finish sixth fresh-up in Rating 74 1400 metres on 4 September at Te Rapa, and steps up in $50,000 Rating 74 1600 metres. She has a good record over a mile, has placed three from three on the course, including second in Lowland Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m), but does require luck from the wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $17.00 & $4.80.

3.15 p.m. R6 6 Brando (4 h Savabeel - Saoirse) - Danielle Johnson; rose to task with determined fresh-up win in Open 1200 metres on 1 October at Te Rapa, and steps up in $80,000 Red Badge Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m). A stakes' winner and Group 1 runner-up last season, recording two of four wins at 1400m, he is ideally drawn (2) to rate in the top three. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.70.

4.25 p.m. R8 3 Prise De Fer (6 g Savabeel - Foiled) - Troy Harris; made good ground in Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m), and improved further off a good Harris ride for second here a fortnight ago in Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m). Although drawn wide (15) in $250,000 Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m), he brings form to has first three claims. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00.

4.25 p.m. R8 10 Savy Yong Blonk (6 m Savabeel - Ampin) - Danielle Johnson; resumed with strong finish from last in Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 14 September at Hastings, and was good through line after missing the start in Open 1600 metres on 1 October at Te Rapa. She can bounce back to rate top three prospect in $250,000 Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

4.58 p.m. R9 1 Top Brass (6 g Epaulette - Highlight) - Niranjan Parmar (a4); won dominantly over a strong Open 1200-metre field in May at Te Rapa, spelled, and was a close second at the trials on 28 September at Cambridge (poly-track). Top weight while claiming to 59.5kg in $50,000 Rating 74 1200 metres, he is the winner of five from 1000 to 1200 metres, including a course victory, and has tough qualities. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

4.58 p.m. R9 6 Phantom Witness (5 g Star Witness - Fandom) - Craig Grylls; staged a big finish for third, running the fastest last 600m (35.8), when resuming here in Rating 74 1200 metres on 18 September, and contests $50,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. The wide draw (13) makes it tough but he rates in the top three with any luck. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

4.58 p.m. R9 8 Exaltation (5 m Not A Single Doubt - Meleka Belle) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); impressive winning, she rounded off very well for second when trialling on 3 September at Cambridge (poly-track), and resumes in $50,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. A half-sister to former stable-mate and dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands), winner of 14 Group 1 races, she has a very good course record but requires luck from difficult draw (12). Fixed odds: $17.00 & $5.00.

4.58 p.m. R9 9 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) at Hastings, and resumed off a lengthy spell with a notable fifth in Rating 74 1200 metres here on 18 September. A mare that uses herself well, she has first three claims with right trip from the tricky barrier 10 in $50,000 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

5.35 p.m. R10 4 Aromatic (5 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); found plenty after racing outside leader for fresh-up second to stable-mate Maasir (above) in Rating 74 1300 metres on 17 September at Taupo. Having registered three wins and five seconds from nine starts, she has weight relief to 57.5kg and is ideally drawn (4) to rate a top three chance in $50,000 Rating 74 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00.

5.35 p.m. R10 15 Feelin' Fancy (5 m Rip Van Winkle - Frivolous) - Danielle Johnson; resumed with good fourth in Rating 74 1300 metres on 22 September at Cambridge, and contests $50,000 Rating 74 1400 metres. Stylish winning twice to 1600 metres last season, including here in April, she is perfectly drawn (1) to race well. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.50.

Ashburton:

Weather: fine, track: Dead6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

2.58 p.m. R6 2 Need I Say More (4 g No Nay Never - Bo Bardi) - Sanu Toolooa (a3); winner of seven (six stakes' wins) from 10 starts, he peaked late after tough trip when resuming under 60kg in Open 1200 metres on 18 September at Riccarton. Trialled since on 5 October at Riccarton (poly-track), he receives weight relief to 58.5kg and is a top three proposition in the $40,000 Open 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.50.

2.58 p.m. R6 6 Summer Monsoon (7 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Kozzi Asano; ran fastest last 600m (33.0) on day when getting home for second in $40,000 Open 1200 metres on 18 September at Riccarton, and contests corresponding event. He trialled since on 5 October at Riccarton (poly-track), is a course winner, and can post a top three finish if able to emulate previous efforts. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80.

4.08 p.m. R8 1 I Wish I Win (3 g Savabeel - Make A Wish) - Rohan Mudhoo; finished second to stable-mate On the Bubbles (Brazen Beau) in Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), after winning on debut last season. He resumed with a second to stable-mate Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in Northland Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 4 September at Te Rapa, was second in the El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m) on 18 September at Hastings, and expect a strong showing in the $80,000 Barneswood Farm Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m). Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.25.

4.43 p.m. R9 9 Radegast (5 g Savabeel - Marveen) - Rohan Mudhoo (a1); won and twice placed during last campaign, he resumed over 1200 metres last Friday at Timaru, and steps up in $30,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. A winner at 1400 metres, he requires luck from draw (11). Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

5.18 p.m. R10 2 Supreme Khan (4 g Mongolian Khan - Angelica Hall) - Rohan Mudhoo (a1); produced a notable fresh-up fourth behind subsequent winner Maximus Prime (Echoes of Heaven) in Rating 74 1200 metres on 6 September at Ashburton, and was a close fourth in a very competitive Rating 74 1200 metres on 2 October at Riccarton.  A trial winner here between those runs, he meets another strong field in $30,000 Rating 74 1400 metres, but has good prospects with luck from barrier 12. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70.

5.18 p.m. R10 13 Fashion Shoot (4 m Savabeel - High Fashion) - Samantha Wynne; did everything right, running a quick last 600m (33.9), when winning fresh-up in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 18 September at Riccarton. Up in grade, she finished third to stable-mate Secret Amour (Niagara) last Friday at Timaru, and is handily drawn (6) to race well in $30,000 Rating 74 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

Caulfield:

Weather: showery, track: Soft5, rail: true. 13mls rain forecast Friday, 7mls Saturday.

5.45 p.m. (NZ time) R7 1 Kahma Lass (4 m Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass) - Brett Prebble; won New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) last November at Riccarton, and produced a terrific winning feat here last Saturday in Weekend Hustler Stakes (Listed, 1400m). Backing up in $300,000 Lexus Tristarc Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m), she carries top weight (59kg) but should race well if appreciative of conditions. NZ TAB fixed odds: $11.00 & $2.90.