Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview
19 April, 2024
Te Akau Racing has 14 horses entered on Saturday 20 April: Ellerslie and Riccarto in new Zealand, and Mornington in Victoria, Australia.?
Ellerslie:
Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. 2mls rain forecast Friday and 29mls Saturday.
1:45 p.m. R3 7 Dream Of The Moon (2 f All Too Hard – Moonchild) – Warren Kennedy; she let down strongly in the straight for a close second when trialling on 28 March at Tauranga, and resumes in the $100,000 TAB Star Way Stakes (Listed, 1200m). She impressively won a race during Cup Week at Riccarton that the years prior was a stakes’ race, and produced a strong third to stable-mate Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) in the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m). Having good juvenile season, she presents as a serious top three contender. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.
4:11 p.m. R7 4 Aotea Lad (7 g Savabeel – Corsage) – Masa Hashizume; he did well for fourth in the Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2100m) on 6 April at Trentham, and contests the $150,000 Manco Easter Handicap (Gr. 3, 1600m). He finished third after a tough trip over 1500 metres here in February, is a genuine performer, and is ideally drawn (2) to race well again - one of two contesting the event in the tangerine. Fixed odds: $31.00 & $6.50.
4:11 p.m. R7 9 Cognito (4 g So You Think – Lady Primrose) – Wiremu Pinn; he got back lot ast and was not pressured the last bit on footing downgraded to Heavy8 in the Japan Trophy (Gr. 2, 1600m) on 23 March at Tauranga - going certainly not to his liking. Contesting the $150,000 Manco Easter Handicap (Gr. 3, 1600m), he was the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) winner last season, and while he has produced good form this campaign, he requires a lot of luck from the wide draw (13). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20.
Riccarton:
Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast.
11:50 a.m. R1 8 Sailing Away (3 g Merchant Navy – Anchovy) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he went forward to be handy and finished fifth when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 4 April at Ashburton. He has the benefit of barrier two in the $20,000 Maiden 1400 metres to race competitively. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.
1:30 p.m. R4 6 Kith ‘n’ Kin (4 m Almanzor – Kindred) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she has been given time (34 days) since winning the Rating 75 1200 metres on 17 March at Wingatui, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1000 metres. She has won two of her last three starts, but may find 1000 metres a touch short resuming - the first of a stable duo lining up in the race. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.
1:30 p.m. R4 10 Angels Wings (4 m Heroic Valour – Gowana) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she finished third to Kith ‘n’ Kin (above) in the on 17 March at Wingatui, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1000 metres. A Rating 65 1100 metres winner here three starts ago, she is yet another stable runner that requires luck from a wide draw (14). Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.50.
2:34 p.m. R6 5 Millefiori (5 m Iffraaj – Miss Bluebell) – Niranjan Parmar (a); she was denied racing room near the rail in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 4 April at Ashburton, and contests the $80,000 Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (Listed, 1400m). She delivered two good efforts prior for second and third, respectively, and is perfectly drawn (2) to rate a top four chance in an even field. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70.
3:09 p.m. R7 15 Inca Belle (4 m Per Incanto – Belle Vie) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she dwelt at the start from barrier one but recovered with a good effort for third in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 4 April at Ashburton, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. She continues to race solidly , but she too has drawn a shocker (16) in even field. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.
3:44 p.m. R8 7 Mazzucato (3 f Tivaci – Yellen) – Niranjan Parmar (a); she continued her good course form when closing for fourth to race rival Epee Beel (Epaulette) in the NZB Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1600m) here last Saturday, and steps up in the $80,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m). She meets a similar field, and you guessed it - if she can overcome the negatives of her wide gate (14) she will prove competitive one of two contesting the event for the team. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80.
3:44 p.m. R8 8 Sense of Timing (3 f Time Test – Pin Up Lae) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she did well off a wide trip for sixth in the NZB Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1600m) here last Saturday, and steps up in the $80,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m). She continues to race consistently well at this level and, unlike hr stablemate, is ideally drawn (2) to make an impact. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80.
4:19 p.m. R9 1 Perfect Scenario (6 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay) – Niranjan Parmar (a); he finished off convincingly for third in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 4 April at Ashburton, and contests the $120,000 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr. 3, 2000m). A dual Group Three winner over 1600 metres at weight-for-age, he possesses a good course record, but requires things to go his way from the difficult barrier (12). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.
Mornington:
Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast.
4:05 p.m.(NZ) ~ 2:05 p.m.(Vic) R5 8 Puketiro (4 m Savabeel – Matakana) – Harry Coffey; she resumed with a smart victory in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 30 March at Ellerslie, running the fastest last 600m (33.8) on the day, and contests the A$130,000 Benchmark 78 1200 metres. While she is having her first start in Australia, she has been impressive winning five of eight starts, and while she may get back from her awkward draw (9), look to see her run home strongly if appreciative of course. These colours of course were ridden to elite success previously in Australia with Group 1 winner Shillelagh, also raced by Christopher Grace QSM and Susanna Grace. NZ TAB fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80.
5:20 p.m.(NZ) ~ 3:20 p.m.(Vic) R7 6 Savoir Faire (4 g Savabeel – Etiquette) – Harry Coffey; he came from the rear with a strong finish for a close second when resuming in the Benchmark 70 1600 metres on 21 March at Pakenham, and contests the A$130,000 Benchmark 78 2000 metres. He raced away for victory in the Benchmark 64 2000 metres three starts ago at Pakenham, before spelling. Stakes’ placed in the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m), he has unfortunately copped a wide draw (15) which seems to be the theme this Saturday! However he can prove competitive both with good navigation and him handling the course at his first attempt. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.50.
6:35 p.m. (NZ) ~ 4:35 p.m. (Vic) R9 7 Fashion Shoot (6 m Savabeel – High Fashion) – Harry Coffey; she was held up from the rear before finishing strongly for fourth in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 30 March at Ellerslie, running fastest last 600m (34.6). She too is having her first start in Australia, and drops back in distance for the A$200,000 Sportsbet Hareeba Stakes (Listed, 1200m). She brings a good record at this trip top the contest and was impressive winning the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m), and while she is yet another who has drawn awkwardly (9), she can be if things go her way and she too relishes her first attempt on the track. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.50.