Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 13 horses entered on Saturday 3 May: Te Rapa and Riccarton, New Zealand, and one horse racing at Morphettville, South Australia.

Te Rapa:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy8, rail: out 6 metres. No rain forecast. 

1:15 p.m. R3 10 Viva Glam (3 f Savabeel – Style By Design) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1); she has been freshened since the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 7 February at Tauranga, and contests the $20,000 Maiden 2YO & Up 1200 metres. She has recorded two thirds on Soft7 going in four starts, and is out of a stakes’ placed mare that won twice over 1200 metres. She has the ability to race well in a fresh state and is ideally drawn (3) to break maiden ranks. Fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.80.

1:50 p.m. R4 3 Malborough Bay (5 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin) – Vinnie Colgan; he raced wide on the pace and kept finding well for second when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 21 April at Waverley. One of two stablemates contesting the $40,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres, he has notched up four wins to 1400 metres, including a win on this track. He has a liking for soft ground, and is a genuine performer who always tries hard. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.10.

1:50 p.m. R4 5 Baronet (5 g Contributer – Alpha Dame) – Joe Doyle; he sustained a big run from last, in the fastest last 600m (35.2), for close second on a Heavy8 track in the $17,000 Rating 75 1200 metres on 10 April at Waverley, and also contests the $40,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres. Currently in good racing fettle, all his career wins have come on heavy ground, and he has the right credentials to prove competitive from barrier two. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.80.

2:24 p.m. R5 8 Inca Belle (5 m Per Incanto – Belle Vie) – Joe Doyle; she made ground widest on the track from last in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 30 March at Tauranga, and contests the $35,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She was second at her only previous course attempt, has a senior rider back aboard, and is more than capable of proving competitive if she can snare some luck from the nasty gate (17). Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.50.

3:00 p.m. R6 4 Towering Vision (2 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision) – Craig Grylls; he did very well from beyond midfield for third when resuming in the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 17 April at Matamata, and contests the $80,000 Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes 1400m. He debuted with a good effort for third in the 2YO 1100 metres here in December, indicates he will appreciate the increased distance, and is capable of a first four finish. Fixed odds: $17.00 & $4.50.

Riccarton:

Weather: showers, track: poly-track, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

11:53 a.m. R2 4 Moon Rocket (4 g Merchant Navy – Moonlover) – Hayley Hassman (a4); he fought hard for a close third in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 19 March and was then fifth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 4 April, both at Waverley. Heading south for this prep., he contests the $35,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, and has weight relief to 54.5kg with the stable apprentice engaged. A course winner on the poly-track, he rates a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.70.   

12:26 p.m. R3 12 Celtic Bling (3 f Embellish – Niamh Elizabeth) – Jasmine Fawcett; she sustained a strong finish for fifth after coursing wide when resuming in the Maiden 2YO & Up 1000 metres on 12 April at Trentham, and contests the $20,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Her half-sisters Irish Red (Burgundy) and Sorcha (Burgundy) have won here on poly-track, the latter recording three victories, and she is one to watch on her southern debut. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95.

1:33 p.m. R5 6 Queen’s Evidence (2 f King’s Legacy – Enjay) – Kylie Williams; she kept finding off a wide trip for fourth in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) here on 12 April, and contests the $80,000  Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes over 1200m. She responded in good fashion to comfortably win a 2YO 1100 metres on 1 March at Wingatui on debut, and is poised to make an impact if she handles the poly-track at her first attempt - one of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.95.

1:33 p.m. R5 10 Dujardin (2 f Hello Youmzain – Equestrienne) – Kavish Chowdhoory; she finished fourth from a handy position when resuming in the 2YO 1300 metres on 12 April at Trentham, and having travelled well south, she too contests the $80,000 Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes. She made up plenty of ground for fourth on debut, hails from a gifted family, and is a top three prospect if she too is appreciative of the poly-track surface. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.05.

2:10 p.m. R6 9 Bello Mio (5 g Deep Field – Bella Francesca) – Hayley Hassman (a4); he finished strongly for second in the Rating 75 1000 metres here last Saturday, also with Hassman aboard, and is one of two for the stable contesting the $35,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. With weight relief to 52.5kg, he has raced twice here on poly-track, and brings the right stats to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.45.

2:10 p.m. R6 11 Alminette (5 m Burgundy – High Heels) – Jasmine Fawcett; she found the line belatedly from well back and wide in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 16 April at Ashburton, and likewise contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. She brings a strong poly-track record, having notched up a win and two thirds from three starts here on that going, and rates a top four chance as long as she secures a decent trip from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.45.

3:27 p.m. R8 7 Fellini (5 g Belardo – Silke Top) – Jasmine Fawcett; he was caught wide in the Rating 75 2000 metres here on 12 April, and contests the $80,000 Avon City Ford Easter Cup (Open Handicap, 1600m). He has placed on two from three occasions here on poly-track, and has the ability to prove competitive if things go his way from the tricky alley (9). Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.10.

4:37 p.m. R10 6 Can’t Kach Me (5 m Tavistock – Kachina) – Hayley Hassman (a4); she was unable to quicken on the Heavy10 going in the Rating 65 1800 metres here last Saturday, and contests the $35,000 Rating 65 2100 metres. Another who takes advantage from the apprentice engagement, she enjoys weight relief to just 53.5kg, has been a winner to 2200 metres, and finds the chance to improve if she handles the poly-track surface. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00. 

Morphettville:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 2 metres. No rain forecast. 

5:55 p.m. (NZ time) R7 12 Esternay (3 f All Too Hard – Sezanne) – Daniel Stackhouse; she recorded a huge second-up victory in the Maiden 1400 metres on 28 March at Cranbourne, and emulated that feat when coming from last to win the Rating 70 3YO 1400 metres on 25 April at Flemington. Contesting the A$120,000 Listed Adelaide Galvanising Industries Adelaide Guineas 1600m, she does step up in class but is certainly an exciting filly. Likely to get back from the outside gate (12), ook for her flying at the business end. NZ TAB fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.10.