Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has nine horses entered on Saturday 8 February at Te Rapa and Wingatui in New Zealand and two at Yarra Valley and Caulfield in Victoria.

Te Rapa:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 2 metres. No rain forecast.

1:03 p.m. R2 4 Charmrose (4 m Charm Spirit – Sovereign Rose) – Craig Grylls; she finished second twice in four starts before breaking 1:10 when winning the Maiden 1200 metres on 20 January at Wanganui, also with Grylls aboard. She contests the $65,000 Special Conditions 1200 metres and has ability, but she does meet a much stronger field here and will need plenty of luck from the outside gate (9). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.70.

2:10 p.m. R4 6 Top Shelf (3 f Savabeel – Saoirse) – Craig Grylls; she produced a solid debut performance for fourth in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 12 December at Ellerslie, and then won the Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres on 2 January at Tauranga in stylish fashion. One of two stablemates contesting the $275,000 Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic over 2000m, she meets small but talented field but has shown enough early in her career to prove competitive from barrier four. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.35.

2:10 p.m. R4 9 Luvabeel (3 f Savabeel – O’Lovely) – Joshua Parr; she steadied back from her wide draw (10), improved with cover, and ran on well for sixth in the Maiden 3YO 1600 metres here on 16 January. Also contesting the $275,000 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic, she has closed the margin in both starts, appears suited to stepping up in distance, and has drawn (2) to receive an economical trip, plus has the bonus of a top trans-Tasman Group 1 winning rider aboard. Fixed odds: $27.00 & $4.60.

2:53 p.m. R5 9 Class (3 g Embellish – Opulent) – Wiremu Pinn; he tired after leading in the  Listed Gingernuts Salver over 2100m on 12 January at Ellerslie, and contests the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (Special Conditions, 1600m). He appears suited to dropping back in distance and has the ability to prove competitive in what presents as an even field. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

5:12 p.m. R9 13 Inspired By Art (4 m So You Think – La Bella Delicia) – Wiremu Pinn; she got back on the outer, six lengths off the leaders at the 600m, but received a nice drag into proceedings rounding home turn to find the line solidly for third in trial on 14 January at Matamata. Resuming in the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, she was impressive winning fresh-up over 1200 metres here in October, and is perfectly drawn (4) to prove competitive in good, even field. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.90.?

Wingatui:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 4 metres from 1400m – 400m, remainder true. No rain forecast.

2:23 p.m. R5 4 Caravella (5 m Caravaggio – Highland Lights) – Triston Moodley (a2); she received a nice trip in fourth, improved at the 600m, was four-wide turning for home but was not under pressure rounding off well for a close second in a trial on 28 January at Ashburton. Resuming in the $50,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, she contested both the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) and Listed Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) during Cup Week (9 – 16 Nov.) at Riccarton, and has the benefit of weight relief to 56kg. All five of her career wins have come over 1200 metres, and she possesses the ability to prove competitive in this field - one of a stable duo contesting the event. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.20. 

2:23 p.m. R5 6 Kabugee (5 g Satono Aladdin – Kabuki) – Lily Sutherland; he travelled third in the open, levelled inside the 200m but tended to lay in while going on to win trial on 28 January at Ashburton. He also resumes in the $50,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, has acted well fresh-up previously, cand is capable of giving this a shake if he can secure some good luck from his wide gate (10).  Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.60.

3:00 p.m. R6 4 Our Milly Bee (5 m Merchant Navy – Rina Bettina) – Lily Sutherland; she was held up in the trail before running home solidly for fourth in the Rating 65 2000 metres on 15 January at Riccarton, and contests the $50,000 Rating 65 2200 metres. Prior to that, she delivered a top run for second in the Rating 65 2300 metres on 26 December at Otaki, has been a winner in this grade over 2200 metres, is a versatile mare, and brings first four claims from barrier four. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00.

4:10 p.m. R8 1 Perfect Scenario (7 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay) – Marc Lerner; he was unable to quicken over the sprint trip after pressing forward from the outside gate (15) in the Listed Timaru Stakes over 1200m on 25 January at Riccarton, and contests the $80,000 Listed Nellies Restaurant & Bar Hazlett Stakes (1400m). Unbeaten in three starts on course, he is preparing to defend his consecutive wins in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) on 1 March at Wingatui, is undoubtedly a quality galloper but faces stiff task with 60kg on his back. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.90.

Yarra Valley:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

3:01 p.m. (NZ) ~ 1:01 p.m. (Vic) R1 1 Longcross (4 g Pride Of Dubai – Festival Princess) – Carleen Hefel; he finished third after utilising barrier one to race handily in the Maiden 1009 metres here on 21 January, and contests the A$27,000 Maiden 1209 metres. His dam won over 1600 metres as have three progenies, but he will need everything to go his way from the wide gate (13). 

Caulfield:

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

3:20 p.m. (NZ) ~ 1:20 p.m. (Vic) R3 5 Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay) – Blake Shinn; she was spelled after winning both the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) during Cup Week in November 2024 at Riccarton, and resumes in the A$150,000 Benchmark 100 2000 metres. After re-locating to Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable in hunt of Australian black type, she quickened to win a jump out on 20 January at Cranbourne. She is preparing for the A$300,000 Group 2 Adelaide Cup over 3200m on 10 March, and is ideally drawn (1) to commence  her new campaign with a bold showing. NZ TAB fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.10.