Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

?Te Akau Racing has 16 horses entered on Saturday 22 March: Trentham and Riccarton in New Zealand, and two horses entered at Moonee Valley in Victoria, Australia.

?Trentham:

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

2:52 p.m. R5 9 Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay) – Craig Grylls; she had a genuine exhibition gallop over a lap of the track on 12 March at Matamata, following the Listed Night Cup (2500m) in February at Moonee Valley, and contests the $110,000 Frac Club New Zealand St Leger (2600m). Runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks at the corresponding meeting as a three-year-old, she was the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner earlier this season, and will be looking to bounce back to her Spring form. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.25.   

3:27 p.m. R6 3 My Lips Are Sealed (4 m Ace High – Tellmeaboutit) – Craig Grylls; she produced a terrific performance for third in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes over 1400m on 15 February at Matamata, and looked good in an exhibition gallop there on 12 March. She won the Group 3 Phar Lap Trophy over the mile on 4 January at Trentham in dominantly fashion,  and is poised to be a major player in the Group 3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes over 1600m. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00. 

5:12 p.m. R9 10 Puketiro (5 m Savabeel – Matakana) – Craig Grylls; one of two mares lining up in this feature for the team, she received a nice run on the inner from barrier one and quickened appreciably near the rail to win a trial on 5 March at Taupo. Resuming in the $130,000 Listed Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist Lightning Stakes (1200m), she has been impressive winning six of 14 starts, four over 1200 metres. It is her swan-song today and she brings an excellent fresh-up record, and does possess the ability to prove competitive in this even field as she bids farewell to racing.  Fixed odds: $21.00 & $6.00.

5:12 p.m. R9 11 Petrucci (5 m I Am Invincible – Via Napoli) – Warren Kennedy; there second stable starter in this feature, she fought well for fifth after working forward from her wide draw (12) in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 1 March at Wingatui, and also contests the Listed Lightning. In the famous Trelawney colours, she has been an impressive winner, is a dual Group 3 runner-up, and is more than capable of making her presence felt in this even contest. Fixed odds: $26.00 & $7.00.

Riccarton:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy8, rail: out 8 metres. No rain forecast.

12:43 p.m. R3 3 Dream Of The Moon (3 f All Too Hard – Moonchild) – Courtney Barnes; she drew out to win by a length when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres here on 5 March, and contests the $40,000 3YO 1400 metres. She has been an mpressive winner here as two-year-old, and was certainly up to the best of her age in stakes’ races earlier this season. Enjoying good form, and progressive in training, she positions as a top three contender.  Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.35.

1:16 p.m. R4 1 Perfect Scenario (7 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay) – Triston Moodley (a2); went so, so close (nose) to recording a hat-trick of victories in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) on 1 March at Wingatui, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres. He has to carry top weight (60.5kg), but boasts very good course and distance stats, and brings the right current form to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.70.

1:49 p.m. R5 5 Best Rose (2 f Maurice – Queen’s Legacy) – Courtney Barnes; she fought hard for a close second when debuting in the 2YO 800 metres on 25 January and raced clear to win by three lengths in the 2YO 1000 metres, turning the tables on her earlier competition on 19 February, both here at Riccarton. Contesting the $40,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series – Noms Close 31 March 2YO 1000 metres (bonus eligible), she certainly warrants favouritism from barrier one and needs to jump well. Fixed odds: $2.00 & $1.20.

2:23 p.m. R6 1 Discretion Rules (3 g Alabama Express – Miss Madonna) – Triston Moodley (a2); he fought well for third on Heavy8 footing in the Rating 65 1200 metres here on 5 March, and is the first of a stable trio contesting the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. He won the Listed Champagne Stakes over 1200m here last season, has the benefit of weight relief to 59.5kg, and presents as a top three chance from the handy barrier four. Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.75.

2:23 p.m. R6 8 Maracatu (3 g Ardrossan – Cortado) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1); he found the line well for a close fourth on Heavy8 footing in the 3YO 1200 metres on 23 February at Ashburton, and also contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. He won as two-year-old on good ground, so he will need to deal with the prevailing track conditions. The apprentice engagement means he has weight relief to 56.5kg, but will need everything to go his way from the wide gate (14). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

2:23 p.m. R6 9 Hooray For Harry (3 g Harry Angel – Here We Come) – Courtney Barnes; he deserved victory when fighting best in a tight finish to the Maiden 1200 metres, on Heavy8, here on 5 March, and likewise contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. He brings winning form to the contest, has shown enough to measure up in the next grade, and is there best drawn of the Te Akau trio (2). Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.20. 

3:00 p.m. R7 5 Fellini (5 g Belardo – Silke Top) – Courtney Barnes; he finished fifth after racing outside the leader when resuming in the Open Handicap 1600 metres here on 5 February, and fought hard for fourth after leading on Heavy8 in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 23 February at Ashburton. One of two stablemates contesting the $50,000 Seaton Family Memorial Hororata Gold Cup (1800m), he is a previous course/distance winner, a genuine performer on a range of footing, and is ideally drawn (4) to be in the thick of things. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.35.

3:00 p.m. R7 7 Elegant Lady (5 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Triston Moodley (a2); she got too far back nearing the home turn in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) on 1 March at Wingatui, and also contests the $50,000 Seaton Family Memorial Hororata Gold Cup (1800m). She came from last with big finish for second to stable-mate Family Ties (below) in the Rating 75 2000 metres here prior on 19 February, has a good course record, enjoys weight relief to 52kg, and finds the opportunity to bounce back from barrier two. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.45.

3:35 p.m. R8 7 Family Ties (5 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Courtney Barnes; she raced clear to win a Rating 75 2000 metres here on 19 February, and finished strongly from back in the field for fourth in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) on 1 March at Wingatui. Contesting the $100,000 Group 3 Donaldson Brown South Island Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), she is a stakes’ winner over 1800 metres, in competitive this campaign and is drawn to be dangerous (2). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.90.

4:10 p.m. R9 2 Caravella (5 m Caravaggio – Highland Lights) – Triston Moodley (a2); she was unable to quicken on Heavy8 footing in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 5 March, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. All five of her wins have come over 1200 metres, and while she is looking to recapture that form, she is aided by weight relief to 55.5kg, and is proven to have the ability to be competitive if she handles the track conditions - one of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $20.00 & $5.50. 

4:10 p.m. R9 15 Vivacious (4 m Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Courtney Barnes; she ran on well from rear when resuming in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres on 23 February at Ashburton, and contests the corresponding event. She has raced well on this course previously, clocks good sectionals, and is more than capable of bold performance with luck from wide draw (15). Fixed odds: $17.00 & $4.80. 

4:45 p.m. R10 14 Donna Chiara (3 f Belardo – Bellabaci) – Courtney Barnes; she finished third from  a handy position on Heavy8 footing in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 23 February at Ashburton, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. She had resumed here prior with a solid performance for second, appears suited to stepping up to the mile, and is capable of proving competitive if she snare some luck from her difficult gate (13). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.10. 

Moonee Valley:

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

4:30 p.m. (NZ) ~ 2:30 p.m. (Vic) R5 5 Savoir Faire (5 g Savabeel – Etiquette) – Luke Cartwright (a3); he has been given time (35 days) since finishing back when resuming in the Benchmark 84 1600 metres on 15 February at Flemington, and contests the rescheduled A$125,000 Yarra Valley Cup (2040m). He has recorded four wins over 2000 metres and drops considerably in weight to carry just 50kg. Whilst not ideal for his racing style to have the race being transferred to this track, he has drawn the ace (1), and finds the opportunity for return to winning form. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.00. 

6:15 p.m. (NZ) ~ 4:15 p.m. (Vic) R8 1 Quintessa (4 m Shamus Award – Chaquinta) – Daniel Stackhouse; she finished strongly for third in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes over 1400m on 22 February at Caulfield, was given time, and looked good winning a jump out on 10 March at Cranbourne. Contesting the A$300,000 Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m), she is a Group 1 winner at 1600 metres, dual Group 3 winner and was runner-up here in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes over 2040m. The return to WFA conditions suits her, and she is ideally drawn (4) to prove competitive. NZ TAB fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.60. 

Main picture: Quintessa winning at Group 3 level in Melbourne