Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has two horses entered on Saturday 28 June at Ruakaka, and two horses at Caulfield in Melbourne.

Ruakaka: 

Weather: showery, track: Soft5, rail: true. Showers forecast. 

2:40 p.m. R6 2 Altari (3 g Savabeel – Bohemian Lily) – Vinnie Colgan; he ran the fastest last 600m (34.9) when finishing fifth in the 3YO 1400 metres on 24 May at Te Rapa, but found the Heavy10 conditions too testing in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 15 June at Matamata. Contesting the $60,000 3YO 1600 metres, he has been racing consistently and is a genuine top three chance. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.00.

3:15 p.m. R7 4 Stonybreck (5 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Vinnie Colgan; he raced well for a close third in a strong field for the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 26 April at Te Rapa, and was not far away in the Rating 85 1550 metres on 21 May at Cambridge. Contesting the $60,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres, he is nicely weighted (55.5kg), and is perfectly drawn (2) to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $3.70.  

Caulfield:

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 12 metres. No rain forecast. 

3:00 p.m. (NZ) ~ 1:00 p.m. (Vic) R3 2 Stage ‘n’ Screen (3 f Ace High – Inthespotlight) – Luke Cartwright (a3); she was extremely defiant when winning the Benchmark 64 3YO 1200 metres on 29 May at Pakenham, and contests the A$150,000 3YO Fillies 1200 metres. Competitive in strong fields, weight relief to 57kg, and strongly supported in early market. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.60.

4:15 p.m. (NZ) ~ 2:15 p.m. (Vic) R5 3 Savoir Faire (5 g Savabeel – Etiquette) – Tom Prebble (a2); he made good ground from last when running on strongly in the Benchmark 84 2000 metres here on 31 May, and contests the A$80,000 Benchmark 78 2000 metres. A previous course/distance winner, four of his career wins have come over 2000 metres, and he has weight relief to 59kg, but requires luck from the wide draw (10). NZ TAB Fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50. 

Main picture: Savoir Faire winning in Melbourne