Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 14 horses entered on Saturday 24 February at Matamata, and two horses entered at Caulfield, Melbourne.

Matamata:

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:10 p.m. R1 1 Treaty of Paris (4 g Tavistock – Echezeaux) – Warren Kennedy; he has been given time (38 days) since the Rating 65 2100 metres in January at Te Rapa, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. Twice a winner to 2140 metres, he is ideally drawn (2) and look for him to be finding the line staunchly - one of two stable runners in the event. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

12:10 p.m. R1 6 Rule Of Law (3 g Justify – Repeat) – Opie Bosson; he produced a notable effort off an economical trip for fourth in the Rating 65 1400 metres here on 7 February, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. Racing well on his home track, he has first four claims in even field. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.

12:44 p.m. R2 2 El Viento (3 g El Roca – Mandeville) – Opie Bosson; he won stylishly over 1400 metres here on 10 January and wound up nicely from last for fourth in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 10 February at Te Rapa. He is a competitive individual who finds the line strongly and rates a top three chance in the $40,000 Special Conditions 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.60.   

1:18 p.m. R3 6 Alminette (4 m Burgundy – High Heels) – Opie Bosson; she did everything right and continued her good form when beaten a nose in the Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres on 10 February at Te Rapa. Back in trip for the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, she is a previous course/distance winner and is a top three prospect if she secures luck from her wide draw (13) - the first of a stable duo engaged in this race. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

1:18 p.m. R3 8 Family Ties (4 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Jess Allen (a3); she has been freshened since the Rating 75 1600 metres on 3 January at Te Aroha, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. A stakes' winner over 1800 metres, after winning her Maiden over 1300 metres, she enjoys weight relief to 55kg, and has the ability to show up with a decent trip from the tricky barrier nine. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.80. 

1:51 p.m. R4 1 Move To Strike (2 c I Am Invincible – No Evidence Needed) – Opie Bosson; he raced up to his superb looks when winning impressively on debut in the 2YO 1100 metres on Waikato Cup Day (16 Dec.) at Te Rapa, and then was a close second to stable-mate Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) on slow ground in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 1 January at Pukekohe. Given time, he is a smart colt, the blinkers go on, and he rates top three chance in the $100,000 Fairview Matamata Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) - one of two colts in the event, and syndicate partner of his stablemate below. Fixed odds: $1.80 & $1.15. 

1:51 p.m. R4 5 Unbridled Joy (2 c Snitzel – Joy Forever) – Sam Weatherley; he finished strongly for second to stable-mate When Stars Align (Zoustar) when debuting in the 2YO 1100 metres on 23 December at Trentham, and impressively won the Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1200 metres here on 24 January. He is certainly a top three contender in the $100,000 Fairview Matamata Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.00. 

2:24 p.m. R5 1 Freeze Frame (4 g Vadamos – Snow Petal) – Opie Bosson; he unfortunately reared as the gates opened and then coursed wide in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 11 February at Tauranga, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. In solid form prior, he brings a good course record to this, the blinkers are on, and he is given the opportunity to bounce back with luck from barrier 10 - the first of a Te Akau trio in the race. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40. 

2:24 p.m. R5 7 Sophisticardo (5 g Burgundy – Glamorous Girl) – Billy Jacobson; he never really let down in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 11 February at Tauranga, and also contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. He was held up at a vital stage before finishing fourth in the Rating 75 1400 metres here on 24 January, the blinkers are on him too, he generally finds line and this is an opportunity to improve. Fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.50. 

2:24 p.m. R5 16 Zantabulous (4 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Warren Kennedy; she received an economical trip but was unfortunately stifled for running room in the straight when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 10 February at Te Rapa. Contesting the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, she has been impressive winning twice to 1400 metres here on her home track, but requires luck from the outside gate (14). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30. 

3:00 p.m. R6 2 Fashion Shoot (6 m Savabeel – High Fashion) – Opie Bosson; she was solid from back in the field when resuming in the Westbury Classic (Gr. 2, 1400m) on 27 January at Ellerslie, and contests the $50,000 Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m). She won the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) impressively during Cup Week (15 Nov.) at Riccarton, has placed in three of four course attempts, and rates a top three chance from barrier five. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.65. 

3:35 p.m. R7 1 Captured By Love (2 f Written Tycoon – Moldova) – Opie Bosson; she was impressive when winning the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m) in December at Trentham, and resumed with victory on unsuitable heavy ground in the Taranaki 2YO Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 3 February at New Plymouth. Unbeaten in three starts, she high class and is a definite top three chance in the $150,000 J Swap Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m). Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.30. 

Te Akau has won the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) eight times, including last year with Zourion (Zoustar). 

4:10 p.m. R8 2 Aotea Lad (7 g Savabeel – Corsage) – Opie Bosson; he did well for third off tough trip in the Open Handicap 1500 metres last Saturday at Ellerslie, and steps up in the $80,000 Matamata Veterinary Services Equine Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m). While he is a winner of five races to 1600 metres, his family has shown ability over further, and he is aided by the handy draw (3) - one of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80.

4:10 p.m. R8 10 Accidental Tourist (4 g Telperion – Megara) – Billy Jacobson; he remained back in the Aotearoa Classic (4YO, 1600m) on 27 January at Ellerslie, and contests $80,000 Matamata Veterinary Services Equine Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m). Stakes' placed last season, he shown his talent to win four races, is perfectly drawn (2), and will certainly be competitive if appreciative of stepping up in distance. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20.

Caulfield (Melbourne):

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast. 

5:05 p.m. (NZ time) - 3:05 p.m. (Vic) R6 7 Campionessa (6 m Contributer – Bella Carolina) – Michael Dee; she recorded her 10th victory in the Zabeel Classic (Gr. 1, 2050m) on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, was unsuited by the off track in the Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 20 January at Trentham, and ran a top race for second to Legarto (Proisir) in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) on 10 February at Te Rapa. The consummate professional, with the ability to match, she rates a top three chance from barrier one in the $300,000 Carlton Draught Peter Young Stakes (Gr. 2, 1800m) - she is race fit and with the rail out four metres, this alley will be pivotal. NZ TAB fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.30.    

6:55 p.m. (NZ time)  - 4:55 p.m. (Vic) R9 3 Skew Wiff (4 m Savabeel – Starvoia) – Craig Williams; she delivered wicked acceleration to win The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day (7 Nov.) at Flemington, before a big run from back in field for close a fifth in the Sir Rupert Clark Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) here on 18 November with Williams aboard. She looked good winning her recent jump out/trial on 12 February at Cranbourne, acts well fresh, and appears capable of a bold showing from barrier three in the $750,000 Sportsbet Oakleigh Plate (Gr. 1, 1100m). NZ TAB fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.00.