Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Saturday 19 October: Ellerslie, and Otaki in New Zealand, and three horses at Caulfield, Melbourne.

Ellerslie: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast. 

3:54 p.m. R5 3 Legally Binding (3 g Exceedance – Legal Eagle) – Wiremu Pinn; he raced away to win stylishly when trialling on 3 September and sustained a strong gallop to win the Maiden 3YO 970 metres, also with Pinn aboard, on 18 September, both on poly-track at Cambridge. Up in class for the $55,000 3YO 1200 metres, he is handily drawn (5) and while he brings winning form to the contest, much depends on how he handles the transition to the StrathAyr track surface for his first time. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.90.

6:39 p.m. R9 1 Rule Of Law (4 g Justify – Repeat) – Matt Cartwright; he was held together while sustaining a good gallop for second in a trial on 3 September and won fresh-up with genuine endeavour in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 18 September, both on poly-track at Cambridge. He steps up in grade for the $55,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, is twice a winner to 1400 metres and brings winning form to the battle however he has unfortunately drawn the outside gate (12) which is not ideal. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.40. 

Otaki: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast. 

1:13 p.m. R3 5 Cool Aza Rene (2 f Cool Aza Beel – Irene) – Craig Grylls; she began smartly to lead, was challenged nearing home turn, but went again to win without being extended in a trial on 19 September at Rotorua. Debuting in the $40,000 2YO 800 metres, she is by Te Akau trained Champion Two-Year-Old and Group 1 winner Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel), from the family of Australian Champion 2YO Filly Hasna (Snippets), and this is an ideal first-up assignment for the precocious filly. Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.20.

Caulfield: 

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres. 19mls rain forecast Friday and 3mls Saturday.

5:10 p.m. (NZ time) R6 12 Exuberance (3 f Savabeel – Miss Opulence) – Joao Moreira; she circled from last with a big run for third when debuting in the Maiden 3YO Fillies 1140 metres on 13 September at Geelong, and lifted after leading to hold off challengers when winning the Maiden 1200 metres on 2 October at Cranbourne. Up in class for the A$300,000 Manhari Thousand Guineas Prelude (Gr. 2, 1400m), she brings winning form but has draw awkwardly (9) however has the internationally acclaimed rider to aid her in this challenge.  NZ TAB fixed odds: $27.00 & $6.00.

5:45 p.m. (NZ time) R7 6 Sans Doute (5 m Not A Single Doubt – My Prerogative) – Michael Dee; she came from last with a strong finish for third when resuming in the Listed Carlyon Stakes over 1000m on 24 August at Moonee Valley, but was unable to handle the ground after torrential rain in the Group 2 Bobby Lewis Quality 1200m on 14 September at Flemington. Given time since, and having her first start at Caulfield, she contests the A$300,000 Group 2 Millennium Sprint 1000m. A stakes' winner when rocketing home in the Listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Stakes over 1000m last season at Flemington, she has there undoubted ability to prove competitive but sadly she too has drawn the tricky outside gate (10) for this assignment. NZ TAB fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.45.

6:30 p.m. (NZ time) R8 1 Quintessa (4 m Shamus Award – Chaquinta) – Zac Purton; she exuded fortitude with a terrific fresh-up victory in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes 1200m on 31 August at Caulfield, but was another who was unable to handle the ground after torrential rain when contesting the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes over 1400m)on 14 September at Flemington. Given time since, she lines up in the A$300,000 Group 2 Sharp EIT Solutions Tristarc Stakes 1400m. A winner here two starts ago at her only previous course attempt, she is the highest rated horse (105) in field, and will be looking to bounce back with good effort from barrier six in the hands of former Australian, now Hong Kong's Champion jockey. NZ TAB fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.