Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has two horses entered on Saturday 16 August: Ruakaka and New Plymouth, New Zealand, and one horse entered at Warracknabeal, Victoria.

Ruakaka:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. Showers forecast Saturday afternoon.

1:27 p.m. R3 4 Age Of Discovery (4 g Savabeel – Bayrock) – Opie Bosson; he quickened to lead and went on to score a smart win when trialling over 1100 metres on 4 August at Taupo, also with Bosson aboard. Resuming in the $35,000 Rating 75 1100 metres, he impressed winning early last season over 1400 metres before being sidelined with an injury.  While he is destined for further in this campaign, this is an ideal kick off and he does have the capacity to perform well in a fresh state. Fixed odds: $2.15 & $1.15. 

New Plymouth:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy9, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast. 

2:32 p.m. R5 9 Vickezzlastcall (4 m Wrote – Vickezzchardonnay) – Courtney Barnes; she recorded a second start victory in the Maiden 2YO & 3YO 1400 metres on 6 July at Tauranga, but was unable to quicken in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 26 July at Te Rapa. Contesting the $35,000 Special Conditions 1800 metres, she does appear suited by the step up in distance and shapes to prove competitive if she handles the course at this, her first attempt. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.95. 

Warracknabeal:

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

3:16 p.m. (NZ) ~ 1:16 p.m. (Vic) R3 8 Toroness (4 m Toronado – Single Princess) – Lachlan King; she came from back in the field to finish third and second respectively in recent jump outs at Cranbourne, and  is having her first start for stable in the A$32,000 Maiden 1205 metres. She previously raced on good footing and while the prevailing track conditions are something of an unknown, she is a more mature mare now who looks well positioned to perform creditably first-up. 

Main picture - Age of Discovery winning at Riccarton