Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has eleven horses racing on Saturday 26 October: Ellerslie, Riccarton, and Moonee Valley (Melbourne).

Ellerslie:

Weather: showery, track: Dead6, rail: out 9.5 metres. No rain forecast.

3.24 p.m. R6 11 Mongolianconqueror  (5 g Ocean Park - Queen Rania) - Michael McNab; was scratched off heavy ground on 12 October at Matamata, and missed out on trialling a few days later, he resumes in the $40,000 Open 1400 metres. Beaten a nose here in the New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) and a horse with good staying prospects, strong through the line would be pleasing. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.80.

3.59 p.m. R7 14 Savy Yong Blonk (4 m Savabeel - Ampin) - Michael McNab; ran the fastest final 600m (34.7) for fourth when resuming in the Rating 82 1400 metres on 14 September at Ruakaka, and although finishing third the slow ground appeared against her on 6 October in the Rating 82 1600 metres at Te Teko. Third here in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m), with notable efforts in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m), and NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) last season, she has the class to perform admirably with a decent trip from barrier 10 in the $30,000 Rating 82 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50.

5.09 p.m. R9 16 Shebringsmerubies (4 m Sebring - Run Away Ruby) - rider to be advised; prevailed with impeccable timing in a close finish to the Maiden 1400 metres on 18 September at Matamata, and up in grade for the $25,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. Although drawn wide (13), she is a consistent performer that can measure up with the right trip. 

Riccarton:

Weather: fine, track: Slow8,rail: out 8 metres to 1000m and 11 metres to winning post. No rain forecast.

1.15 p.m. R3 1 12.15 p.m. R2 1 Ready for This (2 c More Than Ready - Costarosa) - Troy Harris; won both his trials before getting the start wrong and recovering well for fourth on debut here in the $22,500 2YO 800 metres on 5 October, and contests the corresponding event. Barrier 12 makes it tricky, but the right trip can see him in the finish. Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.65

1.50 p.m. R4 10 Xplosion (3 f Showcasing - Xpress) - Corey Campbell (a2); fought hard for third when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1250 metres on 30 August at Ashburton, handled a stiffer assignment for fifth here in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200 metres) and third most recently in the Maiden 1400 metres on 5 October at Riccarton. With weight relief to 52kgs, she rates an each way chance from barrier seven in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.70.

1.50 p.m. R4 13 Exaltation (3 f Not A Single Doubt - Meleka Belle) - Chris Johnson; drew clear stylishly on Slow8 footing when winning a 1000-metre trial on 9 September at Ashburton, and debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. A sizeable filly by a Champion son of Redoute's Choice (Danehill), she is a half-sister to Champion Two-Year-Old, reigning Horse of the Year, and nine-time Group One winning stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands). While destined for further, there is enough about her to go well first-up with luck from a wide draw (15). Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.85.

2.58 p.m. R6 10 Quattro Katie  (4 m Zoustar - Kakakakatie) - Jason Laking; placed three times from five starts here last spring, including a third in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m), she made it back-to-back wins - having won in March at Matamata - with a determined effort in the Rating 65 1000 metres here on 7 September and notable up in grade when fifth on 5 October in the $25,000 Rating 72 1200 metres. Laking continues his association and the pair rates a top five chance again. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

3.33 p.m. R7 1 Aotea Lad (3 g Savabeel - Corsage) - Jason Laking; got back off a wide gate in a big effort for third to 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) favourite Catalyst (Darci Brahma) in the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) on 5 October at Hastings, and contests the $80,000 War Decree Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m). Havingwon the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m) and finished second to stable-mate Probabeel in the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) last season, he can to test this field. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.60.

4.08 p.m. R8 8 Remington (5 g Darci Brahma - Kudamm) - Corey Campbell (a2); ran similar time (34.3) to winner and race rival Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) when coming from last to finish seventh here on 5 October in the  $35,000 Open 1400 metres, and contests the corresponding event. He came of age last spring when winning three of his four starts at Riccarton, talented at best and capable of a bold showing with weight relief to 52kgs. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.20.

5.18 p.m. R10 4 Leaderboard (4 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Troy Harris; clocked the fastest last 600m (36.1), coming from last to finish fourth, when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 20 September at Taupo, and steps up in the $22,500 Rating 65 1600 metres. By the sire of Winx, he was a strong winner over 2400 metres last October in Ireland. Ideally drawn (5), wide expanses of the course should aid his prospects of getting into the finish. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80.

Moonee Valley:

Weather: showery, track: Good4, rail: true. Showers forecast.

6.55 p.m. (NZ time) R9 7 Te Akau Shark  (5 g Rip Van Winkle - Bak Da Chief) - Opie Bosson; ran a cracking race for second in the Epsom Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 5 October at Randwick, and gets a shot at the big one: $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) - won for the last four years by now retired champion Winx (Street Cry). Back left-handed which has seen him win five of his nine starts and $500,000 in prize money, he faces a stern test from the outside gate (14) but will have plenty of fans riding him home. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.80. 

Back