Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 15 horses entered on Saturday 23 December: Te Rapa, Trentham, and Moonee Valley (Melbourne). 

Te Rapa: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 9 metres. No rain forecast. 

1:35 p.m. R2 12 Akenehi (3 f Fastnet Rock – Igraine) – Vinnie Colgan; she closed nicely down the outside for fourth when trialling on 5 December at Waipa, and debuts in the $25,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Her dam Igraine (Galileo) impressed winning from 1400m – 2100m, including at Te Rapa, and also performed well when fresh. She rates a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.

2:10 p.m. R3 9 Kith ‘n’ Kin (4 m Almanzor – Kindred) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she held her ground while running home well when trialling on 5 December at Waipa, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She produced a big finish to win fresh-up over 970 metres in September at Cambridge, and has first four claims from barrier five. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.00.

3:28 p.m. R5 3 Wairau Cove (5 g Darci Brahma – Distinctive Lass) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he remained back but ran home pleasingly from last when resuming in the Rating 75 1100 metres here on 2 December, won by stable-mate Freeze Frame (Vadamos), and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. One of two stable runners in the event, he is both a winner and stakes' placed on course, and presents as a top four contender from barrier six. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $4.00.

3:28 p.m. R5 5 Freeze Frame (4 g Vadamos – Snow Petal) – Sam Weatherley; he produced a whirlwind finish to win when resuming in the Rating 75 1100 metres here on 2 December, also with Weatherley aboard, and he too contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. He brings good course/distance stats into play in this and is ideally drawn (2) to be right in the mix at the business end. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

4:02 p.m. R6 14 Matakana Girl (3 f Ace High – Bankside Belle) – Sam Weatherley; she chased home well for fourth when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 9 November at Taupo, and ran the fastest last 600m (35.0) for third in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 10 December at Rotorua. Drawn the ace, she is ideally suited stepping up in distance for the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres and is capable of a first three finish - one of a stable duo lining up in the event. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

4:02 p.m. R6 20 Ascend The Throne (3 g Savabeel – Thee Achiever) – Matt Cameron; he was doing his best work late, from last, in the Maiden 1300 metres here on 2 December, and likewise contests the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres. The step up in distance appears ideal, but he does require luck from his wide draw (14). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

4:37 p.m. R7 3 Aotea Lad (7 g Savabeel – Corsage) – Matt Cameron; he was caught wide on pace when resuming in the Open Handicap 1300 metres here on 2 December, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. He is another who boasts good course/distance stats and is aided by jumping from barrier one -n the first of two for the team in the event. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30.

4:37 p.m. R7 7 Accidental Tourist (4 g Telperion – Megara) – Vinnie Colgan; he ran home solidly for a close third in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres on 30 November at Otaki, and contests the corresponding event. He too has a good record here and over this distance too, so expect him to make his presence felt from the handy barrier two. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.65.

Trentham: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 8 metres from 1000m – 600m, remainder out 6 metres. 5mls rain forecast Saturday.

12:40 p.m. R1 6 Superbly Written (3 f Written Tycoon – Supara) – Michael McNab; she ranged up three wide turning for home and worked nicely to win a trial on 5 December at Waipa. Resuming in the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres, she won her second start and is ideally drawn (3) to figure right in the finish here. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.25.

1:15 p.m. R2 1 Unbridled Joy (2 c Snitzel – Joy Forever) – Jonathan Riddell; he began smartly to co-lead in a competitive pace and cruised in to win when trialling on 5 December at Waipa. Debuting in the $40,000 2YO 1100 metres, he has been good through the trials' stage winning two from three and rates a top three chance - as he aims to replicate his partnership-mate Move To Strike who won on debut last weekend for the same breeding syndicate ownership. Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.10.

1:15 p.m. R2 2 When Stars Align (2 c Zoustar – Shenandoah) – Michael McNab; he began well, steadied to track the leaders in third, and lengthened nicely in the straight for a close third when trialling on 5 December at Waipa. He too makes his debut in the $40,000 2YO 1100 metres, has been first and third respectively at the trials, and can utilise barrier one to position himself as a top three chance. Fixed odds: $1.90 & $1.10.

3:35 p.m. R6 10 Romancing The Moon (4 m El Roca – Underthemoonlight) – Kozzi Asano; she lifted for a close third after working hard early in the J Swap Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m) last Saturday at Te Rapa, and contests the $150,000 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m). A staunch Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner here in March, a bold showing is expected from barrier six. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75. 

4:10 p.m. R7 3 Fierce Flight (5 g Flying Artie – First Bloom) – Craig Grylls; he showed his liking for the course when winning the Rating 83 2200 metres here last Saturday, and backs up to contest the $120,000 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (Gr. 3, 2300m). Second in the New Zealand St Leger (Listed, 2600m) last season at his only previous course attempt, he was the Hawkes Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m) winner. He drops considerably in weight to carry just 54kg and is capable of a first four showing from barrier four - the first of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.50. 

4:10 p.m. R7 5 Leaderboard (9 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy) – Kozzi Asano; he found the line for fifth in the Rating 83 2200 metres here last Saturday, won by Fierce Flight (above), and also contests the $120,000 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (Gr. 3, 2300m). He won the Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) here in January on a rain-affected track, and is capable of figuring third-up from a spell, despite the tricky gate (11)l. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.50.

Moonee Valley: 

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

2:45 p.m. (NZ) - 12:45 p.m. (Vic) R2 13 Rhetorical (3 f Snitzel – Xpression) – Damian Lane; she was very unlucky not to win on her Australian debut when a close second in the Benchmark 64 1000 metres here on 8 December, and contests the A$80,000 Benchmark 64 1000 metres. While going from a three-year-old race to a three-year-old and older event isn't ideal, she is weighted accordingly and shapes to perform well again. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80.