Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 11 horses entered on Saturday 24 August: Te Rapa and Riccarton in New Zealand, and Moonee Valley in Melbourne.

Te Rapa:  

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy9, rail: true. 8mls rain forecast Saturday. 

12:10 p.m. R2 3 Truth Or Dare (3 g Vanbrugh – Thetruthisoutthere) – Opie Bosson; he went forward to situate outside the leader and stretched out very well on heavy ground to win easily when trialling here on 6 August, also with Te Akau's stable rider Bosson aboard. Resuming in the $25,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, he has won three of four trials, and looks poised to make an impact on this field. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.75. 

3:16 p.m. R7 1 Egyptian Queen (4 m Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Triston Moodley (a2); she began smartly from a wide gate to lead and quickened well to win when trialling here on 6 August. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, she was placed in both The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (Listed, 1340m) and Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) last season, will relish the weight relief to 58kg, has speed and rates a top three chance - that's her in the main photo. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.70. 

3:49 p.m. R8 13 Skew Wiff (5 m Savabeel – Starvoia) – Opie Bosson; the first of two starters for the stable in the feature, this mare ran home well for fourth in trial here on 6 August, looked good in an exhibition gallop during the week at Taupo, and resumes in the Group 2 $150,000 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate over 1200m. She resumed with  terrific effort for second in the corresponding race last season, being narrowly denied, before winning the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy 1400m. She then went to Te Aklau's Victorian stable where she won a Group 3 feature event on Melbourne Cup day at Flemington. She appears in very similar fettle to this time last season and is capable of a podium finish from barrier one. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70. 

3:49 p.m. R8 14 Romancing The Moon (5 m El Roca – Underthemoonlight) – Wiremu Pinn; the second stable starter in the main event of the day, this daughter of El Roca began well to lead and kept up a strong gallop for second when trialling here on 6 August likewise with race day rider Pinn aboard. She looked good in am exhibition gallop during the week at Taupo, and she too resumes in the Group 2 $150,000 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate. A past Group One winner, she brings a very good 1200-metre record to this contest, has placed at both her course attempts to date, and possesses the ability to prove competitive in the class field. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.40.

4:27 p.m. R9 1 Aotea Lad (8 g Savabeel – Corsage) – Sima Mxothwa (a4); the senior statesman of the stable fought solidly on holding ground in the Oamaru Cup (Open, 1600m) on 21 July at Oamaru, was freshened over 34 days, and drops in grade for the $40,000 Rating 75 1500 metres. He is another who boasts a solid course record and he has the benefit of weight relief to 60.5kg. He does however meet an even field, but he always steps out as a genuine contender. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.50. 

Riccarton:  

Weather: fine, track: poly track, rail: true. No rain forecast.

1:04 p.m. R2 5 Angels Wings (5 m Heroic Valour – Gowana) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she produced a strong finish for second to stable-mate French Rose in the Rating 65 1200 metres here (poly track) on 7 August, also with Goindasamy aboard, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She has delivered some solid performances on the poly track to date, is handily drawn (6), and rates a top three chance - the first of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.65. 

1:04 p.m. R2 6 Alminette (5 m Burgundy – High Heels) – Lily Sutherland (a1); she speared through stylishly to win a trial on 16 July and did well from wide draw (13) when resuming to form the trifecta behind stable-mates French Rose and Angels Wings (above) in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 7 August, both here on poly track. She undeniably has the ability to win more races, and she too is capable of a top three finish from the handy barrier (4). Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.70. 

1:36 p.m. R3 6 Kith ‘n’ Kin (5 m Almanzor – Kindred) – Lily Sutherland (a1); she simply had no chance from back and wide in the Special Conditions 1200 metres here on 10 August, and contests the $50,000 Rating 80 1200 metres. She finished strongly for third in the Rating 75 1200 metres here (poly track) on 26 July, has been a winner on the poly track, and is nicely weighted (54kg) to prove competitive in this small field. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.40. 

3:25 p.m. R6 6 Mitre Peak (4 m More Than Ready – Liten Prinsessa) – Lily Sutherland (a1); she began well to travel quite keenly in second place in the open and was not extended to win a trial on 13 August at Ashburton. Contesting the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, she is a last start course/distance winner in July, brings terrific poly track form winning two of her last three here, and positions as a definite top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.75. 

4:35 p.m. R8 5 Moon Rocket (4 g Merchant Navy – Moonlover) – Lily Sutherland (a1); he unleashed a terrific sprint to win the Maiden 1400 metres here (poly track) on 7 August, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. While he does meet a stronger field, he undoubtedly has the ability to measure up as a top three chance if he can get some luck from the wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00. 

Moonee Valley:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 5 metres. Showers forecast Friday and 3mls rain Saturday. 

7:15 p.m. (NZ) ~ 5:15 p.m. R8 7 Sans Doute (5 m Not A Single Doubt – My Prerogative) – Michael Dee; she rocketed home to claim victory in the Listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Stakes over 1000m on 30 March at Flemington, and posted a similar for close second in the John Hawkes Stakes (Gr. 3, 1100m) on 27 April at Morphettville, each with Dee (a former Te Akau New Zealand apprentice) aboard. Resuming without a trial in the A$175,000 Listed Paramount Liquor Carlyon Stakes over the 1000m, she has placed in both her course/distance attempts thus far.  She has also won four of her last five starts, acts well in a fresh state, and while she will likely settle back in the small field, she is a definite top three chance. NZ TAB fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.65.