Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Saturday 24 May: Te Rapa and New Plymouth in New Zealand, and two horses at Wodonga and Sandown in Victoria.     

Te Rapa:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: out 8.5 metres. No rain forecast. 

1:50 p.m. R5 2 Altari (3 g Savabeel – Bohemian Lily) – Vinnie Colgan; he finished well for second after receiving a nice trip in the 3YO 1600 metres here on 26 April, also with Colgan aboard, and contests the $35,000 3YO 1400 metres. He was runner-up in both of his previous course attempts and again  deserves plenty of respect in this field. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.85.

3:42 p.m. R8 7 Pokuru Gold (4 g Darci Brahma – Pokuru Nugget) – Vinnie Colgan; he recorded his fourth win from six starts when running the fastest last 600m (34.0) on the day and winning the Rating 75 1100 metres on 7 May at Ellerslie by nearly three lengths. Contesting the $40,000 Open Handicap 1100 metres, he was a course/distance winner last May, and while he is up in grade here, he is racing well and warrants favouritism. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.40. 

4:17 p.m. R9 3 Sense of Timing (4 m Time Test – Pin Up Lae) – Hayley Hassman (a4); she did very well for second in testing conditions for the Rating 65 1400 metres on 10 May at Rotorua, ridden on that occasion to by the Te Akau apprentice. Contesting the $35,000 Rating 65 1500 metres, she was runner-up in two of her last three starts, will take benefit from the weight relief to 55.5kg, and rates a top three chance if appreciative of course at first attempt. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.95. 

New Plymouth:

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy8, rail: out 4.5 metres. No rain forecast. 

2:40 p.m. R5 2 Baronet (5 g Contributer – Alpha Dame) – Jim Chung (a3); he fought hard from a handy position for third in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 3 May at Te Rapa, and drops in grade for the $35,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. He is racing in good form and drops to 56.5kg with the apprentice engagement. All three of his wins have been recorded on heavy ground, and while he meets strong field, from his handy draw (2), he has the right credentials to prove competitive if he handles this track at his first attempt. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25. 

3:50 p.m. R7 7 Malborough Bay (5 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin) – Jim Chung (a3); he was chased along throughout over a sprint trip in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 3 May at Te Rapa, and contests the $40,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres. He has notched up four wins to 1400 metres, has placed in three of five course attempts, has the advantage of weight relief to 52kg, and the blinkers go on for this assignment. He has shown the ability to handle soft ground, is a genuine performer and always tries hard. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30. 

Wodonga:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: true. 4mls rain forecast Friday and no rain Saturday.

2:06 p.m. (NZ) ~ 12:06 p.m. (Vic) R1 7 Seven Oceans (2 f Flying Artie – With Purpose) – Jake Duffy; she got into her work nicely for second after travelling widest in a jump out on 12 May at Cranbourne, and debuts in the A$30,000 2YO 1200 metres. Her dam With Purpose (Pierro) won four races to 1300 metres and has had two to race, both sprint winners. It’s difficult to assess her chances with seven of the eight contenders being debutantes, but she has shown promise and it’s good to get her career underway.

Sandown:

Weather: showers, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres. 6mls rain forecast Friday and 3mls Saturday.

6:35 p.m. (NZ) ~ 4:35 p.m. (Vic) R9 3 Bright Stripes (4 g Starspangledbanner – Dutch Rose) – Tom Prebble (a2); he lifted for second in a sedately run jump out on 5 May at Cranbourne, and has his Australian debut in the A$130,000 Benchmark 84 1400 metres. He was a winner as a two and three-year-old in the UK, including the Listed Tetrach Stakes over 1600m, and while he drops to 58kg with the apprentice engagement, he still has to navigate a challenging gate (12).  NZ TAB fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.00.