Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 11 horses entered on Saturday 21 December at Te Rapa and Trentham in New Zealand, and Pakenham in Victoria, Australia.

Te Rapa: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 3 metres. 16mls rain forecast Saturday.?

2:24 p.m. R3 12 Paravane (3 f Merchant Navy – In The Vanguard) – Vinnie Colgan; she began smartly to cross and lead and was untroubled going on to comfortably win a trial on 3 December at Pukekohe. Debuting in the $25,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, she is a half-sister to Group One winning former stable-mate and Champion 2YO of the Year Sword Of State (Sntizel), who now stands at Cambridge Stud. With two seconds and a win at the trials, she’s from a fast family, and is ideally drawn (4) to rate a top three chance as she begins her racing career. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.85.

3:00 p.m. R4 1 Talisker (4 g Embellish – Glenkinchie) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a2); he comfortably won a trial on 18 November at Waipa, and lifted well for third after racing outside the leader when resuming in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 27 November at Te Aroha. He capped a hat-trick of wins with a terrific effort for second in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas and was named South Island Champion Three-Year-Old last season. Placed in each of his two course attempts, including the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes 1200m, he has weight relief to 58.5kg and is a top three prospect from barrier five in the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.55.

3:35 p.m. R5 2 Egyptian Queen (4 m Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a2); she received an economical trip and quickened appreciably only to be claimed late when second in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 27 November at Te Aroha, also with Lawson-Carroll aboard, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Prior to, she ran home in the fastest last 600m (34.3) for fourth in the Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres on 26 October at Ellerslie. She is twice stakes’ placed, enjoys weight relief to 57.5kg, and has top three credentials if she can secure luck from her wide draw (13). Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.65.?

Trentham: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: out 6 metres. 2mls rain forecast Friday and 5mls Saturday.

1:33 p.m. R2 1 Discretion Rules (3 g Alabama Express – Miss Madonna) – Opie Bosson; he finished sixth after working on the pace when resuming in the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres on 23 November at Wanganui, has been given time (28 days), and contests the corresponding event. He finished second to former stable-mate Nucleozor – since sold to Hong Kong – in all three starts before winning the Listed Champagne Stakes 1200m)last season, and is looking to improve in this his three year old season, after performing consistently well as a juvenile. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.45.

2:09 p.m. R3 2 Cool Aza Rene (2 f Cool Aza Beel – Irene) – Wiremu Pinn; she recorded a very good debut victory in the 2YO 800 metres on 19 October at Otaki, and justified her favouritism with another faultless display in the 2YO 1000 metres during Cup Week (13 Nov.) at Riccarton. By Champion 2YO Cool Aza Beel, also purchased and trained by Te Akau to win the Karaka 2YO Million and Group 1 Sistema Stakes, she has done everything impeccably. She presents as a top three chance from barrier three in the $175,000 Group 2 Happy Hire Wakefield Challenge Stakes 1100m, a race in which Te Akau has a very good record - one of two starters in the event for the team.  Fixed odds: $2.60 & $1.20.

2:09 p.m. R3 3 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 recorded an excellent debut victory also with Grylls aboard in the 2YO 1000 metres here on 7 December. 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 will be a real threat to this field from barrier two in the $175,000 Group 2 Happy Hire Wakefield Challenge Stakes. Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.20.

2:52 p.m. R4 13 Polly Plum (6 m Xtravagant – Herstory) – Wiremu Pinn; she went forward comfortably to lead clearly and maintained that advantage to score easily in a trial on 26 November at Taupo, beating stable-mate Damask Rose who won impressively last Saturday at Te Rapa. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, she ended her previous campaign winning over 1400 metres in June at Matamata and based on the trial performance, shapes to commence with bold effort from barrier two. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.40.

3:28 p.m. R5 7 Ocean Miss (3 f Ocean Park – Runway) – Wiremu Pinn; she never looked in any danger after leading throughout to win the Maiden 1400 metres on 12 November, and stepped up with a top run for third in the Group 3 Wellington Stakes  over 1600m on 28 November at Otaki. She meets an even field in the $100,000 Group 3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes over the same distance and brings the right form to make an impression. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70.

4:02 p.m. R6 1 Perfect Scenario (7 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay) – Opie Bosson; he produced another terrific effort for third in the Group 1 Mufhasa Classic here on 7 December, and contests the $150,000 Group 2 Bramco Marble & Granite Manawatu Challenge Stakes over 1400m. Proven at weight-for-age level, including two Group Three wins over 1600 metres, he brings a top record at 1400 metres, and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80.

4:37 p.m. R7 9 Cognito (5 g So You Think – Lady Primrose) – Wiremu Pinn; he came from beyond midfield, circling widest with a strong finish for third in the Group 3 Counties Cup 2100m on 23 November at Pukekohe. He clocked the fastest last 600m 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 $120,000 Group 3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup over 2300m. He was the Group 2 Wellington Guineas winner over 1400m at his only prior course attempt and, if decent footing remains, he can deliver a podium finish. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.90.

Pakenham: 

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

6:55 p.m. (NZ) ~ 4:55 p.m. (Vic) R9 9 I’m A Dirty Rascal (7 g Galileo – Remember When, by Danehill Dancer) – Craig Newitt; he produced a good run for sixth in the Group 3 Bendigo Cup over 2400m, when finishing a neck behind the eventual Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice, and most recently he fought hard for sixth again in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2600m on 9 November at Flemington. Subsequently purchased by David Ellis CNZM, and syndicated three weeks ago, he contests the A$300,000 Listed Sportsbet Pakenham Cup over 2500m. A genuine staying horse, and winner at the distance, he shapes to race well in his first start for the stable, and will undoubtedly improve from the outing. NZ TAB fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.00.