Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Saturday 4 January at Te Aroha and Trentham in New Zealand, and one horse at Stony Creek, Victoria.?

Te Aroha:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. 2mls rain forecast Friday and 3mls Saturday. 

2:08 p.m. R3 12 Kansas Storm (3 f Savabeel – Kansas) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a2); she raced quite keenly near the rail, but cornered well and quickened nicely for second in a trial on 17 December at Pukekohe. Resuming in the $18,500 Maiden Fillies & Mares 1100 metres, she has been patiently handled as she has needed time to mature mentally. She brings trials’ form, has a depth of quality in her family, enjoys weight relief to 54kg with the apprentice engagement, and is ideally drawn (4) to resume with good effort. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05.

3:20 p.m. R5 7 Lady Of Court (4 m Savabeel – Are There Any) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a2); she got back on the outer and eased down after being checked on straightening in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 20 December at Matamata. She finished strongly for fifth when resuming at her start prior in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 4 December at Rotorua, and has drawn perfectly (5) to he able to show improvement in the $18,500 Rating 60 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.

4:31 p.m. R7 1 Treaty of Paris (5 g Tavistock – Echezeaux) – Ngakau Hailey (a2); one of two in this event for the stable, he was back and wide from his difficult draw, improved wide inside the 600m and kept closing the margin with a good staying run in a trial on 17 December at Pukekohe. Resuming in the $25,000 Rating 75 1600 metres, he is the winner of four races from 2000m – 2200m, and has the benefit of weight relief to 57.5kg with the apprentice up. He has shown the ability to act  well in a fresh state previously and is nicely positioned jumping from barrier two to race well first-up. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.30. 

4:31 p.m. R7 9 Zantabulous (5 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a2); she found the downgrading Heavy10 conditions too testing in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 5 December at New Plymouth, has been given time (30 days), and likewise contests the $25,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. She was racing well earlier in this season, drops to just 53.5kg with the apprentice aboard, and finds a good opportunity to bounce back with another genuine performance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.05.

5:07 p.m. R8 4 Balance Of Power (4 g Almanzor – Respin) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a2); he finished strongly off a handy trip for third when resuming in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 20 December at Matamata, and contests the $18,500 Rating 65 1600 metres. He won over 1400 metres very easily last season and was stakes’ placed two-year-old. Stepping up to the mile should suit him, as will the weight relief to 56.5kg, and he rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.?

Trentham:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: out 6 metres. 4mls rain forecast Friday and 17mls Saturday. 

3:33 p.m. R5 7 My Lips Are Sealed (4 m Ace High – Tellmeaboutit) – Samantha Spratt; she ran home solidly without threatening for fifth in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) on 20 December at Matamata, and contests the Group 3 $120,000 Rydges Wellington Airport Phar Lap Trophy also over the mile. She has black type credentials already, having been second in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) on this course last season, all three of her career wins have come on soft and heavy footing, and she brings right form to have genuine first four claims - the first of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.30.

3:33 p.m. R5 9 Talisker (4 g Embellish – Glenkinchie) – Craig Grylls; he lifted well for third when resuming in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 27 November at Te Aroha, and fought hard for a close second in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 21 December at Te Rapa. He capped a hat-trick of wins with a terrific effort for second in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas last season and went on to be voted 2023/24 South Island Champion Three-Year-Old. He has handled range of track conditions (although he wouldn’t want the track to deteriorate too much) and is also capable of a top four finish in the $120,000 Group 3 Rydges Wellington Airport Phar Lap Trophy. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.65.

4:42 p.m. R7 11 Skew Wiff (5 m Savabeel – Starvoia) – Luke Currie; she situated three back on the inner, improved between runners inside the 800m, mounted a strong challenge in the straight and closed late for second (beaten only a nose) in a trial on 20 December at Matamata. She concluded her previous campaign with a close second in the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m), and was a Group One and Group Two winner over 1400 metres last season, including a Group 3 victory at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. She has placed at her only course attempt and has the services of a leading Australian rider. These factors, combined with her ability to act fresh and her sharp trackwork leading in to the feature, and an advantageous draw, means she is well positioned to really make her presence felt at this elite level yet again. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95. 

Stony Creek:

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

4:51 p.m. (NZ) ~ 2:51 p.m. (Vic) R4 3 Longcross (4 g Pride Of Dubai – Festival Princess) – Liam Rirodan; he closed well for fifth after circling widest when debuting in the Maiden 1000 metres on 11 December at Mornington, and contests the A$27,000 Maiden 1100 metres. His dam won over 1600 metres as have three of her progenies, and he here is presented with a good opportunity to improve further from barrier six.