Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Saturday 18 May at Te Rapa, Hamilton, and Flemington, Melbourne.

Te Rapa:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy8, rail: out 8 metres. No rain forecast.

12:20 p.m. R1 1 Pokuru Gold (3 g Darci Brahma – Pokuru Nugget) – Opie Bosson; he ran on strongly for third in a trial on 30 April at Waipa, and resumes in the $35,000 3YO 1100 metres. He raced away to win on debut in the Maiden 3YO 970 metres on 13 September at Cambridge (poly track), and his dam Pokuru Nugget (Stravinsky) won over 1200 metres,. From a good family, he is ideally drawn (4) to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.50.

2:38 p.m. R5 6 Freeze Frame (4 g Vadamos – Snow Petal) – Warren Kennedy; he sprouted wings over the concluding stages in a most impressive display to win the Open Handicap 1400 metres here on 27 April, with Kennedy aboard. One of two stable runners in the $40,000 Open Handicap 1300 metres, he will be distinguished by wearing Dunstan Feeds colours as a one-off sponsorship support. He has notched up three wins in this campaign, including two at Te Rapa, and is a top three prospect if he can secure a good passage from the outside draw (11). Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.60.

2:38 p.m. R5 8 Aris Aris (5 m Contributer – Irish Encore) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she made ground widest from second last in the same race as Freeze Frame (above) here on 27 April, and they meet again in the $40,000 Open Handicap 1300 metres. All four if her wins have come on soft ground, she possesses a solid course record, is generally consistent, and has the ability to prove competitive from barrier two. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.50.

3:12 p.m. R6 8 Popthebubbles (4 m Wrote – Vickezzlepin) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she ran on solidly for fourth on there back of a wide trip in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 27 April at Wanganui, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 2100 metres. A dual winner on heavy going, she has raced well here previously, and she has the pedigree to appreciate this step up in distance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.90.

3:47 p.m. R7 10 Malborough Bay (4 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin) – Opie Bosson; he did well in a tough battle to win the Rating 65 1400 metres here on 27 April, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. One of two stables ate contesting the event, he was previously competitive in this grade, is racing well, and is ideally drawn (5) to continue the trend. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.10.

3:47 p.m. R7 12 Francee (4 m Iffraaj – Calveen) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she finished strongly for third when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 14 April but was never in a challenging position in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 27 April, both here at Te Rapa. Occasionally luckless, she too is perfectly drawn (4) to prove competitive in this even field. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

Flemington:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 4 metres. 3mls rain forecast Friday and showers Saturday.

2.30 p.m. (NZ) ~ 12.30 p.m. (Vic) R3 2 Puketiro (4 m Savabeel – Matakana) – Michael Dee; she resumed with a smart victory in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 30 March at Ellerslie, and went to the line untested, from back on the inner, in the Benchmark 78 1200 metres on 20 April at Mornington. Given time (27 days), she contests the A$80,000 Benchmark 78 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres. Impressive winning five of nine starts, she rates a top three chance from barrier six. NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.50 & $2.90.