Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 13 horses entered on Saturday 31 August: Wanganui and Riccarton in New Zealand, and Caulfield in Melbourne.

Wanganui:  

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy10, rail: out 3 metres. 16mls rain forecast Saturday.  

12:15 p.m. R1 1 Tagalomu (2 g Tagaloa – Sentimental Miss) – Craig Grylls; one of two starters for the stable in the very first 2YO race of the season, he is from the first crop by Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes' winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa (JPN)), out of Group 1 NZ Oaks and Listed Wanganui Cup winner Sentimental Miss (Reliable Man). He is debuting without a trial in the $25,000 Maiden 2YO 800 metres, but has the pedigree credentials to handle the track and sprint well fresh. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $1.50. 

12:15 p.m. R1 2 To Bravery Born (2 c Snitzel – Milunka) – Opie Bosson; our second runner in the first 2YO race of the season, he quickened with a strong finish for third when trialling on 6 August at Te Rapa, and he too obviously debuts in the $25,000 Maiden 2YO 800 metres. By Champion Two-Year-Old Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), this colt is from a dam line with which Te Akau has had plenty of success, and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.20.

2:42 p.m. R5 3 Unbridled Joy (3 c Snitzel – Joy Forever) – Opie Bosson; he was seen doing his best work through the line over the sprint trip in a trial on 21 August at Taupo, and resumes in the Listed $80,000 HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas over 1200m. He won impressively last season on Soft6 footing over 1200 metres, is stakes' placed, does have the ability to act fresh, but the question is how he will handle the heavy conditions that will prevail. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.55.

Riccarton:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 9 metres to 1000m and 11 metres to winning post. No rain forecast.

12:26 p.m. R2 1 Bello Mio (5 g Deep Field – Bella Francesca) – Jess Allen (a2); he finished well in a photo for third when trialling on 13 August at Ashburton, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 65 1000 metres. He is a dual winner over 1050 metres at Matamata and can race well in a fresh state. With solid course form, weight relief to 57kg thanks to the apprentice claim, and a handy draw (4), he looks competitively poditioned in this - the first of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.60. 

12:26 p.m. R2 7 Vivacious (4 m Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Wiremu Pinn; she made solid ground to finish among the minors in a trial on 6 August at Te Rapa, and likewise resumes in the $40,000 Rating 65 1000 metres. She broke through with an easy win over 1400 metres last season at Te Aroha, and has shown to run good sectionals. She too brings the right credentials to the contest to race well fresh-up. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75.

1:38 p.m. R4 4 About Last Night (3 f Capitalist – Kissmelikearocksta) – Jess Allen (a2); one of two Te Akau fillies in this race, both of whom have transferred south, she is raced by a partnership of ladies. She had two preparatory trials in North Island and resumes in the $40,000 3YO 1000 metres. A natural runner that won on debut last season over 950 metres at Tauranga, she has the advantage of weight relief to 54kg, and rates a top three chance fresh-up. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.65. 

1:38 p.m. R4 5 The Victress (3 f Zousain – Liesele) – Wiremu Pinn; she was held up behind runners but showed a good turn of foot through the line when clear late during a trial on 6 August at Te Rapa. She likewise resumes in the $40,000 3YO 1000 metres, did the job nicely for her debut win in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres in January at Te Aroha, and certainly has ability to also rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.70.

2:13 p.m. R5 5 El Viento (4 g El Roca – Mandeville) – Wiremu Pinn; he trialled on 6 August at Te Rapa, has won twice over 1400 metres last season, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. A talented horse that finds the line with vigour, he appears suited to the open expanses of the Riccarton course, but will need a whole lot of luck from his wide draw (14) - one of two in the race for the team. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05.

2:13 p.m. R5 12 French Rose (5 m Burgundy – Paraiba) – Jess Allen (a2); she led home a stable trifecta for trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson in the Rating 65 1200 metres on the middle day (7 Aug.) of Grand National week at Riccarton on the poly track. She returns to the turf and steps up in grade for the Rating 75 1200 metres, but does have the benefit of bothweight relief to 52kg and race fitness on side - however the wide gate does work against her (13). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20.

2:50 p.m. R6 5 Fellini (5 g Belardo – Silke Top) – Wiremu Pinn; he fought on gamely for fourth on Heavy10 footing in the Rating 75 1600 metres here on 10 August, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1800 metres. He has been racing consistently, should appreciate improved track conditions, and has first four claims if he too can secure luck in the running from the tricky outside gate (13). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70.

4:00 p.m. R8 3 Fierce Flight (6 g Flying Artie – First Bloom) – Jess Allen (a2); he has had three preparatory trials to ready for his return to racing - most recently running home well in quiet trial on 13 August at Ashburton, and resumes in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. He is the winner of six races from 1600m – 2200m, including the Listed Hawkes Bay Cup over 2200m, and has placed twice to 3200 metres at Group Three level. While he does meet more seasoned horses on this occasion, he has weight relief 55kg, and is more than capable of a bold effort first up if things can go his way from the wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.00. 

4:35 p.m. R9 1 Kabugee (5 g Satono Aladdin – Kabuki) – Wiremu Pinn; he came from last to record a good finish for a close up sixth in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 16 August at Oamaru, and drops in grade for the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. He is the winner of three races and has been competitive at stakes' level in North Island. While he carries the top weight (60kg), he has a senior rider engaged and is ideally drawn (2) to be a top three prospect. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.25. 

Caulfield:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: true. No rain forecast.

5:30 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:30 p.m. (Vic) R7 1 Quintessa (4 m Shamus Award – Chaquinta) – Daniel Stackhouse; she remained back while unable to quicken on Heavy10 footing in trial on 10 August at Te Rapa, and resumes in the A$200,000 Group 3 Tobin Brothers Cockram Stakes 1200m for four-year-old mares & upwards. A finalist for NZ Champion Three-Year-Old, last season she won the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m), while also recording three fourths in Group One races, including the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m). She was also runner up by the barest of margins in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes over 2-040m at Moonee Valley. She certainly has the ability to be competitive fresh up and has no shortage of grit and talent. NZ TAB fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.60 - main picture.