Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 11 horses entered on Saturday 12 May: Te Rapa and Riccarton in New Zealand, and Caulfield, Melbourne.

Te Rapa:

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy8, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast. 

2:52 p.m. R6 9 Star Shadow (2 f Reliable Man – Scene Queen) – Wiremu Pinn; she stormed home late for second in  trial on 28 March at Tauranga, and recorded HER debut win on Heavy8 footing in the 2YO 1300 metres on 13 April at Otaki, also with Pinn aboard. She meets a much stronger field in the $80,000 Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (Listed, 1400m), but brings winning form to the battle and is ideally drawn (2). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.60.  

4:02 p.m. R8 13 Francee (4 m Iffraaj – Calveen) – Warren Kennedy; she drew wide (11) and finished strongly for third when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 14 April, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Luckless in the corresponding race here in February, she boasted top form prior, is racing well, and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.40. 

Riccarton:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 5 metres. No rain forecast.

12:05 p.m. R2 7 Kith ‘n’ Kin (4 m Almanzor – Kindred) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she was strong through the line while remaining well back in the Rating 75 1000 metres here on 20 April, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. She has won two of her last four starts, including a Rating 75 1200 metres on 17 March at Wingatui, and rates a top four chance from barrier one in an even field, in which the stable up a trio of starters. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20.

12:05 p.m. R2 13 Sorcha (4 m Burgundy – Niamh Elizabeth) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she came from midfield with a strong finish for third to race rival Inflamed (Ghibellines) in the Rating 75 1400 metres here on 13 April, and likewise contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. She has posted two wins over 1200 metres and is also ideally drawn (3) to possess first four claims in this even field. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.40. 

12:05 p.m. R2 14 Angels Wings (4 m Heroic Valour – Gowana) – Joe Doyle; she finished third to Kith ‘n’ Kin (above) in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 17 March at Wingatui, and closed strongly from the rear in the Rating 75 1000 metres here on 20 April. A Rating 65 1100 metres winner here in January, she appears capable of bold run in the $35,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $17.00 & $4.80. 

1:15 p.m. R4 1 Discretion Rules (2 g Alabama Express – Miss Madonna) – Niranjan Parmar (a); he has played second fiddle to stable-mate Nucleozor in all three starts, most recently in the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) here on 13 April and today gets his chance to claim victory. He is racing very well and poses a top three chance from barrier four in the $80,000 Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.50. 

1:15 p.m. R4 2 Colonel Warden (2 g Russian Revolution – Moralto) – Ashvin Goindasamy; he began well to set the terms in front and kept quickening for a good trials win on 28 March at Tauranga, defeating subsequent debut winning stable-mate Star Shadow (above). Debuting in the $80,000 Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1200m), he has the right form around him to be a realistic top three prospect. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.85. 

3:49 p.m. R8 3 Sailing Away (3 g Merchant Navy – Anchovy) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he finished fifth when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 4 April at Ashburton, and received an inside passage to win the Maiden 1400 metres here on 20 April. Up in grade and distance for the $35,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, this trip should suit him and he appears capable of solid effort in capacity field (18) where the stable has two competitors. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.40. 

3:49 p.m. R8 4 Plenty O’ Style (3 g Embellish – Opulent) – Ashvin Goindasamy; he finished midfield when resuming in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 24 April at Timaru, won by race rival Vindicator, and also contests the $35,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. He followed a third and second, respectively, with a too-easy victory in the Maiden 1600 metres on 7 March at Riccarton, and is perfectly drawn (5) to improve further and make his presence felt. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20. 

4:24 p.m. R9 7 Can’t Kach Me (4 m Tavistock – Kachina) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she followed a third and second, respectively, with a well-deserved victory when dashing away in the Maiden 2200 metres on 4 April at Ashburton, and then delivered a strong finish for second to stable-mate Our Milly Bee (below), as they drew clear, in the Rating 65 2200 metres on 24 April at Timaru. Placed two from two on this course, she looks a definite top three prospect jumping from the lady gate (5) in the $35,000 Rating 65 2000 metres - the first of two for the team in the event. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05.

4:24 p.m. R9 9 Our Milly Bee (4 m Merchant Navy – Rina Bettina) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she did well up in distance for the first time when finishing third in the Rating 65 2200 metres on 4 April at Ashburton, and stayed strong to defeat stable-mate Can’t Kach Me (above) in the Rating 65 2200 metres on 24 April at Timaru. She is a top three contender if she can secure a decent trip from the tricky barrier (10) in the $35,000 Rating 65 2000 metres. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.35.

Caulfield:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 8 metres. No rain forecast.

6:20 p.m. (NZ) ~ 4:20 p.m. (Vic) R9 5 Midnight Blue (7 g So You Think – Midnight Special) – Daniel Stackhouse; he made a successful return to racing when surging late for a very close second in the Bairnsdale Cup (1600m) on 24 March, but didn't produce the same second-up in the Terang Cup (2156m) on 14 April, which could be attributed to the track. The winner of five races, 1800 – 2400m, he seeks improvement in the A$150,000 Benchmark 100 2000 metres with the former Te Akau apprentice engaged to ride. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.40.