Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Saturday 2 November at Tauranga, and four horses at Flemington, Victoria.

Tauranga: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

1:12 p.m. R3 2 My Lips Are Sealed (4 m Ace High – Tellmeaboutit) – Vinnie Colgan; she followed back-to-back wins over 1400 metres with a good finish out of midfield for second in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 12 October at Te Rapa, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. Racing in great form and she deserves to rate a top three chance, but her task has been made harder carrying 59.5kg and drawing wide (11). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

2:28 p.m. R5 5 Inca Belle (5 m Per Incanto – Belle Vie) – Joe Doyle; she picked up nicely over the concluding stages to photo-finish for third in a trial on 23 October at Te Aroha, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. Back in grade since last racing, she is unbeaten in two starts on this course to 1400 metres, she performs swell in a fresh state and is ideally drawn (3) to have first four claims. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.

3:08 p.m. R6 10 Inspired By Art (4 m So You Think – La Bella Delicia) – Vinnie Colgan; she sustained a strong gallop for second in a trial on 19 September at Rotorua, and resumed with an impressive victory in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 12 October at Te Rapa. Up in grade for the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, she is destined for further success, and is a definite top three prospect from barrier five - one of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.60.

3:08 p.m. R6 13 Francee (5 m Iffraaj – Calveen) – Kelly Myers; she quickened appreciably while closing the margin to finish second in a trial on 23 October at Te Aroha, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. A dual winner over 1400 metres, she continues to improve, acts well fresh, and is capable of a bold first-up showing if she secures a decent trip from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50.

5:10 p.m. R9 4 Wild Night (5 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Vinnie Colgan; he remained unbeaten in three starts on his home track when resuming with victory in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 2 October at Matamata, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1300 metres. The winner of seven from 14 starts, he is perfectly drawn (3), and presents as a realistic top three chance if he appreciates the course at his first attempt. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.75.

5:50 p.m. R10 1 Rule Of Law (4 g Justify – Repeat) – Michael McNab; he kept going solidly after leading in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 19 October at Ellerslie, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. A course winner over 1400 metres, he was genuine when resuming with a win over 1300 metres, handled rise in grade, and is capable of a bold showing with any luck from his car park draw (16) - one of two for the team lining up in the last. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.25.

5:50 p.m. R10 8 Our Milly Bee (5 m Merchant Navy – Rina Bettina) – Darin Danis; the second of the stable duo in the event, she remained pocketed with more to offer and finished on the bridle behind a line of horses in a trial on 23 October at Te Aroha. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, she is a winner at this distance, has placed at her only course attempt, and can make an impact fresh up if she overcomes the tricky (9) gate. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80. 

Flemington: 

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

5:00 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:00 p.m. (Vic) R5 8 Our Paramour (3 f Contributer – Victory Parade) – Blake Shinn; she continued making terrific headway when drawing away to win the Maiden 2025 metres on 11 October at Cranbourne, and steps up in the A$300,000 Group 2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes over 2000m. She recorded a strong third in the Crown Oaks’ Preview 1800m here on 22 September and continues great association with this rider. She is a filly that does everything right, but requires luck from her wide draw (13). NZ TAB fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.00.

5:40 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:40 p.m. (Vic) R6 14 Bellatrix Star (3 f Star Witness – Alana’s Party) – Blake Shinn; she notched a hat-trick of wins when scoring impressively in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes over 1100m on 12 October at Caulfield, her third consecutive Australian stakes’ win, and contests the A$2 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes over 1200m. She faces a huge step up in class, but is racing in peak form, winning five of her nine starts, and just requires luck from barrier 11 to prove competitive. NZ TAB fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.70.  

6:20 p.m. (NZ) ~ 4:20 p.m. (Vic) R7 15 West Indies (3 g Fastnet Rock – Anchovy, by Galileo) – Craig Newitt; he is having his first start for Te Akau after racing three times for a win over 1400 metres and two fourths. He faces stern task in the A$2 million Group 1 Penfolds Victoria Derby over 2500m. NZ TAB fixed odds: $101.00 & $18.00.

7:40 p.m. (NZ) ~ 5:40 p.m. R9 3 Sans Doute (5 m Not A Single Doubt – My Prerogative) – James McDonald; she has been interrupted by wet tracks in her last two starts, most recently in the Group 2 Millennium Sprint on 19 October at Caulfield. Contesting the A$200,000 Group 3 Furphy Sprint, she rocketed home to win the Listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Stakes on the straight course here last season, and is the winner of four from five on this track. With a top rider aboard, she receives an ideal opportunity to bounce back. NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.40.