Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Date: 5 Apr 2024

Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview


Te Akau Racing has 14 horses entered on Saturday 6 April: Pukekohea and Trentham in New Zealand, and Royal Randwick (Sydney) and Avoca (Victoria) in Australia.

Trentham:

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:15 p.m. R1 6 Egyptian Queen (3 f Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Warren Kennedy; she remained nicely held after leading to win her trial on 14 March at Taupo, and then worked on terms with stable-mate Captured By Love (below) in an exhibition gallop on 27 March at Matamata. Resuming in the $65,000 3YO 1200 metres, she placed in both The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (Listed, 1340m) and Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m), has speed to negate barrier nine, and rates a top three chance - one of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.65.

12:15 p.m. R1 7 Tightly Laced (3 f American Pharoah – Soubrettes) – Wiremu Pinn; she raced very well for a close second to race rival Platinum Attack in the 3YO 1000 metres here on 9 March, and contests the $65,000 3YO 1200 metres. Effortless winning on debut, she certainly has first three claims from barrier one. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

12:50 p.m. R2 5 Insatiable (4 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Warren Kennedy; he sustained a big run from last (fastest last 600m: 34.0) for third when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 10 February at Te Rapa, and ran on widest from last in the Rating 75 1200 metres won by stable-mate Aequus (Iffraaj) on 16 March at Tauranga. He meets a solid field in the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, and brings a good record to this contest, however he requires luck from his dreadful draw (14). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

2:04 p.m. R4 6 Balance Of Power (3 g Almanzor – Respin) – Warren Kennedy; he finished well for a close fourth when resuming in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 21 February at Pukekohe, and fought well for a close up fifth in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 16 March at Tauranga. Stepping up in the $120,000 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (Gr. 3, 2100m), he was stakes' placed as a two-year-old, and rates a top four chance but is yet another of our team that requires luck from a wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00.

3:21 p.m. R6 6 Aotea Lad (7 g Savabeel – Corsage) – Warren Kennedy; he stepped up with a top run for third in the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) on 24 February at Matamata, and was not far away on footing downgraded to Heavy8 in the Japan Trophy (Gr. 2, 1600m) on 23 March at Tauranga. He won the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m) on debut as a two-year-old at his only course attempt, and shapes to prove competitive in the $175,000 City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2100m) if he (surprise!!) can secure a decent trip from the outside gate (9). Fixed odds: $15.00 & $3.80.

3:56 p.m. R7 2 Move To Strike (2 c I Am Invincible – No Evidence Needed) – Wiremu Pinn; he finished well for a close second in a trial on 14 March at Taupo, and had an exhibition gallop with stable-mate and ownership-mate Unbridled Joy (below) on 27 March at Matamata. Resuming in the $450,000 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), he was a super impressive debut winner, and has bounced back from a minor issue last start so he should prove competitive with decent trip from barrier eight - one of a Te Akau trio ready for battle. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.50.

3:56 p.m. R7 4 Unbridled Joy (2 c Snitzel – Joy Forever) – Jonathan Riddell; he produced an eye-catching third to race rival Savaglee (Savabeel) in the Matamata Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 24 February at Matamata, and rounded off well for third in a trial on 14 March at Taupo. He finished strongly for second to stable-mate When Stars Align (Zoustar) on debut here in December, impressively won the Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1200 metres in January at Matamata, and possesses the ability to prove competitive (for fear of being repetitive) if he can secure luck from his wide draw (10) in the $450,000 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m). Fixed odds: $26.00 & $5.00.

3:56 p.m. R7 9 Captured By Love (2 f Written Tycoon – Moldova) – Warren Kennedy; she became the ninth Te Akau winner of the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) with a brilliant performance on 24 February at Matamata, and ran the fastest last 600m (33.7) on day for third to race rival Velocious (Written Tycoon) in the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 9 March at Ellerslie after a rocky passage. She worked on terms with stable-mate Egyptian Queen (above) in an exhibition gallop on 27 March at Matamata, has won four from five, is handily drawn (3) and can really make her presence felt in the $450,000 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m).

Te Akau has won the Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) seven times, including five of the last six.

4:31 p.m. R8 8 Petrucci (4 m I Am Invincible – Via Napoli) – Vinnie Colgan; she came out of the pack with a solid finish for fifth in the Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m) here on 16 March, and contests the $90,000 Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Handicap (Listed, 1400m). She has posted two good efforts prior at Ellerslie, steps up in distance and appears competitive if !!!! she can garner some luck from wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

Pukekohe:

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

1:05 p.m. R2 10 The Victress (2 f Zousain – Liesele) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she quickened while remaining on the bridle for a nice third in a trial on 14 March at Taupo, and resumes in the $45,000 2YO 1200 metres. She did the job nicely for a debut win in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres on 3 January at Te Aroha, was spelled following the Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1100m), and is up to delivering a top three finish. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.

4:04 p.m. R7 11 Family Ties (4 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Jess Allen (a3); she ran the fastest last 600m (34.3) for fourth when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 24 February at Matamata, and went through the line full of running with Allen aboard to win the Rating 65 1400 metres on 16 March at Tauranga. Up in grade for the $55,000 Rating 75 1500 metres, she enjoys weight relief to 52.5kg, and while she meets a stronger field, she rates a top four chance. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80.

4:39 p.m. R8 1 Devoted (6 g Contributer – Mapmaker) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he finished second in the Rating 65 2000 metres on 29 February at Matamata, and fought well on footing downgraded to Heavy8 in the Rating 65 2100 metres on 23 March at Tauranga. Racing solidly, he needs a lot of luck (like his stablemates!) from a carpark draw (15) in the $55,000 Rating 65 2200 metres. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

Randwick:

Weather: showers, track: Soft7, rail: true. 45mls rain forecast Friday and 44mls Saturday.

5:55 p.m. (NZ time) R7 8 Imperatriz (5 m I Am Invincible – Berimbau) – Opie Bosson; she produced a mighty performance to defend her title in the A$1 million William Reid Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 23 March at Moonee Valley, and contests the A$3 million James Squire T J Smith Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m). The winner of 10 Group One races, she was claimed on the line in the Canterbury Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) at her only course attempt over a year ago. However she is suited by the weight-for-age scale, is an undoubted class act, has handled rain-affected going but may not want a track too deep. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.65.

Avoca:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Saturday.

2:21 p.m. R1 11 Zedwilldo (5 g Zed – Katie Spice) – Will Gordon; he finished fourth in a jump out over 1200 metres on 27 March at Cranbourne, and resumes in the A$27,000 Maiden 1860 metres. He caught the eye when finishing fifth on debut over 1400 metres in August at Matamata, is a staying horse in the making, and is aided by handy draw (5).

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