Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 13 horses entered on Saturday 23 November at Pukekohe and Wanganui., and two horses entered at Cranbourne, Victoria.?

Pukekohe: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. Showers forecast.

1:01 p.m. R3 1 To Bravery Born (2 c Snitzel – Milunka) – Michael McNab; he displayed a good turn of foot to win the Maiden 2YO 800 metres on debut by two lengths on 31 August at Wanganui, and ran on well for third when trialling on 29 October at Waipa. One of two colts for Te Akau contesting the Listed $110,000 Counties Challenge Stakes over 1100m, he has drawn the ace, and presents as a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.45.

1:01 p.m. R3 5 Return To Conquer (2 c Snitzel – Vaujany) – Wiremu Pinn; the second starter for the stable in the juvenile feature, he stretched out with a very good action to impressively win a trial on 29 October at Waipa, and debuts in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes. He has looked very good winning all three of his trials leading up to this debut and is also a top three contender from barrier two. Fixed odds: $1.80 & $1.10.

3:33 p.m. R7 13 Inspired By Art (4 m So You Think – La Bella Delicia) – Wiremu Pinn; she resumed with an impressive victory in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 12 October at Te Rapa, and found the line from a handy position for sixth in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 2 November at Tauranga. She was a winner over 1600 metres last season and appears suited stepping up in distance for the $75,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. She does however require luck from the wide draw (13) she has copped - if she gets that, she has solid first four chances. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

4:07 p.m. R8 8 Cognito (5 g So You Think – Lady Primrose) – Vinnie Colgan; he ran the fastest last 600m (35.1) for the third time in succession to finish third in the Open Handicap 1500 metres on Melbourne Cup Day (5 Nov.) at Ellerslie, and contests the $170,000 Group 3 TAB Counties’ Cup over 2100m.  A Group 2 winner as three-year-old, he brings good form to this contest, has been a winner and stakes’ performer on course, and appears suited stepping up in distance. One of two in the race for the stable, he is capable of a bold effort but is another that has a nasty draw to deal with (15). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.20.

4:07 p.m. R8 12 Qali Al Farrasha (4 m Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Wiremu Pinn; the second stable runner in the Group 3 TAB Counties’ Cup, she was most impressive when resuming with victory in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 26 October at Ellerslie. She then circled widest with a big run for second in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 9 November at Te Rapa. Last season she was second in the Group 3 Sunline Vase over 2100m, third in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks over 2400m, and she too possesses the ability to prove competitive if things can go her way from her wide gate (13). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

4:42 p.m. R9 2 Campionessa (7 m Contributer – Bella Carolina) – Wiremu Pinn; she raced well for fourth in the Group 1 Livamol Classic over 2040m on 12 October at Te Rapa, has been given time (42 days), and contests the Group 2 $225,000 Dunstan Horse Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes over 1400m.  She has been a Group 1 winner on the course over 2050 metres, and is defending her title in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes after sustaining lengthy sprint to win last year. She is a grand mare who remains a terrific competitor and is ideally drawn in barrier four. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95.

5:18 p.m. R10 4 Rule Of Law (4 g Justify – Repeat) – Ryan Elliott; he began well from a wide draw (12) to situate handily in fourth and then fight on solidly for third in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 2 November at Tauranga. Contesting the $75,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, the blinkers on, and is capable of a first four finish from barrier six. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

Wanganui: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. Showers forecast Saturday morning. 

12:11 p.m. R1 1 Discretion Rules (3 g Alabama Express – Miss Madonna) – Ashvin Goindasamy; he finished second to former stable-mate Nucleozor (Almanzor) – subsequently sold to Hong Kong – in all three starts before winning the Listed Champagne Stakes 1200m last season. He finished solidly on the bridle for third in a trial on 18 November at Waipa, and resumes in the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres. Handily drawn (5), he has formulated the right record to present as a top three chance first-up - one of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.35.

12:11 p.m. R1 3 Quintefeuille (3 g Xtravagant – Quintette) – Lily Sutherland (a1); he ran home fine without being pressured in a trial on 18 November at Waipa, and also resumes in the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres. He debuted with a close second, before winning by six lengths over 1000 metres last season at Riccarton, and is also a top three contender from a handy barrier (3). Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.35.

1:20 p.m. R3 14 Bella Voce (4 m Fastnet Rock – Keep On Singing) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she picked up strongly from off the pace to win the Rating 65 1200 metres on 9 November at Te Rapa, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Lightly raced and talented, she brings winning form to this battle, and is perfectly ideally drawn (2) to be a realistic a top three chance again. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.95.

2:27 p.m. R5 7 Petrucci (5 m I Am Invincible – Via Napoli) – Lily Sutherland (a1); she circled from back in the field with a strong finish for fourth in the Rating 75 1300 metres on 9 November at Te Rapa, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1340 metres. An impressive winner, she carries the minimum weight (54kg) and while she meets strong field, she is strategically drawn (4) to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.85.

3:05 p.m. R6 7 Akenehi (4 m Fastnet Rock – Igraine) – Lily Sutherland (a1); like Petrucci, she races in the famous Trelawney Stud colours and closed well from five lengths astern at the 600m for third in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 9 November at Te Rapa. Contesting the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, she finished fourth or better in five starts before winning over 1400 metres last season. She is third up in this campaign, suited by the step up in distance, and can be right in the thick of the finish from the ace draw. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.60. 

4:50 p.m. R9 8 Court Of Appeal (4 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she ran on for fourth from back in the field after being slowly away in the Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1800 metres on 6 November at New Plymouth, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 2040 metres. Bred to appreciate extra distance, she is capable of snaring a dividend, aided by jumping from barrier four. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.70. 

Cranbourne: 

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres.  

5:10 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:10 p.m. (Vic) R6 7 Savoir Faire (5 g Savabeel – Etiquette) – Damian Lane; he resumed with courageous effort for third in the Benchmark 78 1600 metres on 18 October at Moe, and received lovely trip in fourth when finishing second in the Donald Cup (1620m) on 17 November at Donald. Contesting the $130,000 Benchmark 84 2025 metres, three wins over 2000 metres, and ideally drawn (6) to rate a top three chance on home track. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.20.

7:00 p.m. (NZ) ~ 5:00 p.m. (Vic) R9 9 Wild Night (5 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Blake Shinn; he resumed with victory in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 2 October at Matamata, and improved further to beat a smart field in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 2 November at Tauranga. The winner of eight from 15 starts, including Group 2 and Listed wins over 1400m, he contests the A$500,000 Listed Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup over the mile. He has had to have a name change to Its A Wild Night as he embarks on his first start in Australia, and is a talented galloper that is ideally drawn (4) to prove competitive. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.95.