Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 11 horses entered on Saturday 7 December at Ellerslie and Trentham and Ballarat, Victoria.

Ellerslie: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 5 metres. No rain forecast. 

3:49 p.m. R6 2 Unbridled Joy (3 g Snitzel – Joy Forever) – Wiremu Pinn; he steadied to travel fifth behind a competitive pace and finished solidly for third in a trial on 26 November at Taupo. Resuming in the $120,000 Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes, he has been gelded since last racing,. He has been competitive in age group stakes’ races, but requires luck from his difficult draw (11). Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.30.

4:24 p.m. R7 8 Francee (5 m Iffraaj – Calveen) – Vinnie Colgan; she ran the fastest last 600m (34.8) when finishing strongly from well back in the field for second in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 16 November at Tauranga, and contests the $55,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Both of her wins have come over 1400 metres, she has placed at her only course attempt, and she is ideally weighted (55kg) and drawn (6) to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $$5.50 & $2.10. 

Trentham: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:00 p.m. R1 6 Marokopa Falls (2 f Hellbent – Beside You) – Craig Grylls; she closed strongly before being held up over the concluding stages in her sole trial on 26 November at Taupo, and debuts in the $65,000 2YO 1000 metres event. Her dam recorded a hat-trick of wins to 1100 metres in Australia, including two as a two-year-old - she’s from a speedy family, is naturally precocious, and rates a top three chance from barrier two. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.15. 

1:10 p.m. R3 6 Star Shadow (3 f Reliable Man – Scene Queen) – Michael McNab; she was caught three-wide back in the field and ran home strongly for third when trialing on 18 November at Waipa. Resuming in the $65,000 3YO 1400 metres, she recorded her debut win as two-year-old over 1300 metres. The blinkers are on and she’s drawn (1) to receive an economical trip. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.80.    

1:45 p.m. R4 3 Class (3 g Embellish – Opulent) – Luke Currie; he travelled fourth on the outer and ran home fine without being asked for too much in a trial on 27 November at Ashburton. He won easing down by nearly four lengths when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 20 October at Waverley, and was collared late (finishing a very unlucky second) after establishing a clear lead in the 3YO 1400 metres on 13 November at Riccarton. He has top three credentials in the $65,000 Special Conditions Maiden over 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.70. 

2:22 p.m. R5 8 El Viento (4 g El Roca – Mandeville) – Joe Doyle; he travelled comfortably behind the the leader and ran home nicely on the bridle for second in a trial on 27 November at Ashburton. He was racing well for first and second, respectively, before losing the rider as the gates opened in the Rating 75 1800 metres on 13 November at Riccarton. While he steps up in grade, he is carrying the minimum weight (54kg) in the $65,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres, two of his three wins have been over 1400 metres, and he possesses the ability to deliver a top three finish in a small field. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.70. 

4:04 p.m. R8 1 Perfect Scenario (7 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay) – Lily Sutherland (a); he settled back on the outer and finished strongly to win a trial on 27 November at Ashburton. He ran a terrific race for a close third, under the top weight (60kg), in the Group 3 TAB Mile on 13 November at Riccarton, after having won the TAB Mile trial the start prior. He is a dual Group 3 winner over 1600 metres at weight-for-age level, and posted a good fourth in the Group 1 Otaki WFA mile last season. He has also won previously with Sutherland aboard, and iis deally drawn (4) to prove competitive in the $400,000 Group 1 Mufhasa TAB Classic 1600m. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $3.90.

5:12 p.m. R10 1 Malmaison (4 g Darci Brahma – Altai Rose) – Opie Bosson; he made it four wins from his last five starts when finishing strongly to snatch a half neck victory over Insatiable (below) in the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres on 16 November at Riccarton, and they meet again here. He increases 2.5kg to carry 60.5kg in this corresponding event, but is racing in outstanding form, however he will need to overcome the hefty impost and wide draw (13).  Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.70. 

5:12 p.m. R10 5 Insatiable (5 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Michael McNab; he resumed with two top efforts for a very close second during Cup Week at Riccarton, most recently to Malmaison (above) in the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres on 16 November. Contesting the corresponding event, he has placed on this course, and brings the right form to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15. 

Ballarat:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: true. 10mls forecast Friday and 3mls Saturday.

6:20 p.m. (NZ) ~ 4:20 p.m. (Vic) R8 7 Savoir Faire (5 g Savabeel – Etiquette) – Craig Williams; he asserted dominance when winning the Benchmark 84 2025 metres on 23 November at Cranbourne, and remains in the same grade for the A$130,000 Benchmark 84 2000 metres. He is having to carry and extra 2.5kg, now weighted with 59.5kg, and while all his all four wins have been over 2000m - 2025m, he faces a stiffer task from his wide gate (13). However with the top rider aboard, he comes into the contest with first four claims. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.35. 

7:00 p.m. (NZ) ~ 5:00 p.m. (Vic) R9 10 It’s A Wild Night (5 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Daniel Stackhouse; he resumed with two consecutive victories over 1300 metres in New Zealand, and was badly held up before finishing strongly for fifth in the Listed Cranbourne Cup over the mile on 23 November at Cranbourne, when making debut in Australia. Stepping up in the A$500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup 2000m, he is the winner of eight races to 1400 metres, is Group 1 placed over 2000 metres as three-year-old, and while he is expected to be competitive he has a nightmare alley (18). NZ TAB Fixed odds: $13.00 & $4.00.