Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Saturday 20 January: Trentham, Gore, and Flemington (Melbourne).  

Trentham:

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft6, rail: true. 5mls rain forecast Saturday. 

2:23 p.m. R5 12 Sense of Timing (3 f Time Test – Pin Up Lae) – Matt Cameron; she was short of room when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1230 metres on 10 December, won by stable-mate Rue de Rivoli (Tivaci), and quickened best to win the Pearl Series Maiden 1400 metres (eligible $20,000 bonus) on 28 December, both at Rotorua. Stepping up in class for the $120,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), she has the right form around her to possess first four claims from the handy barrier three. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

4:07 p.m. R8 4 Campionessa (6 m Contributer – Bella Carolina) – Matt Cameron; she raced clear to win the Cal Isuzu Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m) on 16 December at Te Rapa, and richly deserved victory in  the Zabeel Classic (Gr. 1, 2050m) on Boxing Day at Pukekohe. She looked good during an exhibition gallop on 11 January at Matamata, was freshened to win Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) last season as an aside, and rates a top three chance from barrier one in the $400,000 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m). Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.60.

4:42 p.m. R9 1 Fierce Flight (5 g Flying Artie – First Bloom) – Jonathan Riddell; he won the Rating 83 2200 metres on 16 December and backed up with top run for second in the Manawatu Cup (Gr. 3, 2300m) on 23 December, both at Trentham. He subsequently finished fifth in the Open Handicap 2100 metres on 12 January at Tauranga, but brings excellent course credentials to the $300,000 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) despite the weight he has been assigned - the first of two Cup contenders for the team. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.50. 

4:42 p.m. R9 9 Leaderboard (9 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy) – Joe Doyle; he found the line for fifth in the Rating 83 2200 metres on 16 December, won by Fierce Flight (above), but was not the same when backing up in the Manawatu Cup (Gr. 3, 2300m) on 23 December, both at Trentham. He finished strongly in the Open Handicap 2100 metres on 12 January at Tauranga, and of course won the $300,000 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) last year, with Doyle aboard. He also has a good record at two miles. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.50.

Flemington:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 9 metres. No rain forecast.

3:55 p.m. (NZ time) - 1:55 p.m.(Vic) R4 6 Rhetorical (3 f Snitzel – Xpression) – Celine Gaudry (a1.5); she was unlucky not to win when finishing a close second in the Benchmark 64 3YO 1000 metres on 8 December and wasn't far away in Benchmark 64 3YO & Up 1000 metres on 23 December, both at Moonee Valley. Given time (28 days), she is drawn (2) to race well in the A$150,000 3YO Fillies Nominate Trophy (1100m). NZ TAB Fixed odds: 14.00 & $3.60. 

4:30 p.m. (NZ time) - 2:30 p.m. (Vic) R5 2 Sans Doute (4 m Not A Single Doubt – My Prerogative) – Celine Gaudray (a1.5); she did very well for third off a wide run in the Benchmark 70 1000 metres on 17 November at Moonee Valley, and won as she liked in the Benchmark 70 1000 metres here on 20 December. Given a month between runs, she rates a top three chance from barrier one in the A$130,000 Black Caviar 1100 metres. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.50.