Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 11 horses entered on Saturday 30 August: Wanganui and Riccarton in New Zealand, and one horse at Caulfield, Melbourne.

Wanganui: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy8, rail: out 2.5 metres 750m – winning post, remainder true. 3mls rain forecast Friday and showers Saturday. 

2:00 p.m. R5 1 To Bravery Born (3 g Snitzel – Milunka) – Wiremu Pinn; he quickened well for second in a trial on 4 August at Taupo, and returned there to resume with a victory on the course in the 3YO 1100 metres on 17 August. He won the first two-year-old race here at Wanganui last season, subsequently drew out to win handsomely over 1200 metres at Ellerslie, and is ideally drawn (3) to be a top three chance in the $80,000 Listed H S Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m) - a race honouring one of New Zealand’s late great industry personalities, Herbie Dyke. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.50. 

Riccarton: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: out 6 metres to 1000m, remainder out 9 metres. No rain forecast.

12:37 p.m. R2 1 Hooray For Harry (4 g Harry Angel – Here We Come) – Opie Bosson; he sustained a good effort off a three-wide trip to dead heat for first in a trial on 19 August at Ashburton, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 65 1000 metres. He continued good form with two second placings following a deserved victory here over 1200 metres last season. He always tries his best and is a genuine perfumer who can deliver a top three finish in the hands of the champion rider - the first of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.40.

12:37 p.m. R2 8 Best Rose (3 f Maurice – Queen’s Legacy) – Vinnie Colgan; she kept going solidly for third in a trial on 19 August at Ashburton, and also resumes in the $40,000 Rating 65 1000 metres. She raced clear to win the 2YO 1000 metres by three lengths here on 19 February and was spelled following the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m). She’s proving to be a versatile filly, even this early in her career, and has the speed to race in or near lead, making her a top three prospect. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.05.

1:08 p.m. R3 1 Cool Aza Rene (3 f Cool Aza Beel – Irene) – Opie Bosson; she won four of five starts as a two-year-old last season, most recently here on 21 June in the 2YO 1000 metres. Resuming in the $40,000 3YO 1000 metres, she is one of two runners in the event for the team and is clearly the highest rated (71) in the field. With a beautiful alley (3) we expect her to resume in good fashion, a filly to watch. Fixed odds: $1.95 & $1.05.

1:08 p.m. R3 6 Belle Du Monde (3 f Zoustar – Lady Cartier) – Vinnie Colgan; she has re-located to our South Island stable for her racing future with Cup Week in her sights.  She strode out to easily win a trial on 19 August at Ashburton, and likewise resumes in the $40,000 3YO 1000 metres. She finished second in her first two starts at Ellerslie, and was spelled following the Karaka Millions 2YO won by stable-mate La Dorada. Beautifully bred, she is from a classy family of stakes’ winners, displays genuine endeavour, and has the talent to make an impression at her southern debut, jumping from barrier one. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.20.

1:39 p.m. R4 1 Perfect Scenario (8 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay) – Jack Taplin (a4); the grand campaigner has start 49 on Saturday, looking to add to his current win tally of 11 (four on this course), having won an impressive $554,270 in his career to date. He remained held together when comfortably winning a trial on 19 August at Ashburton, and resumes in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1000 metres. He went close (nose) to recording hat-trick of victories in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) in March at Wingatui. He grows another leg when in the south, will enjoy apprentice weight relief to carry 58.5kg , and while he may find a couple slicker in this, he has the ability to act well in a fresh state. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.45.

2:14 p.m. R5 7 Legally Binding (4 g Exceedance – Legal Eagle) – Opie Bosson; he raced on the pace and sustained a good gallop to win his trial on 19 August at Ashburton. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, he won two of three starts to 1200 metres last season, including one at Ellerslie, and one on the Cambridge synthetic, underlining his versatility. He has shown that he can race competitively when fresh and look for him to be finishing strongly. Fixed odds: $2.20 & $1.20. 

2:50 p.m. R6 4 Our Milly Bee (6 m Merchant Navy – Rina Bettina) – Vinnie Colgan; she fought hard out of midfield for a close fourth in the Rating 65 1800 metres here on 9 August, and is one of two stablemates contesting the $40,000 Rating 65 1800 metres. She continues to race well and rates a top three chance as potential motherhood beckons. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10. 

2:50 p.m. R6 5 Can’t Kach Me (6 m Tavistock – Kachina) – Opie Bosson; she came from beyond midfield with a strong finish to grab third in the Rating 65 1800 metres here on 9 August, and also contests the Rating 65 1800 metres. She boasts a good course record, is racing well, and is more than capable of a top three finish. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10. 

4:00 p.m. R8 5 Stonybreck (6 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Vinnie Colgan; he was beaten by just a nose after dictating terms in the Open Handicap 1600 metres here (poly-track) on 21 August, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1580 metres. While six of his seven career wins have come on poly-tracks, he did well three starts ago for second in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 28 June at Ruakaka. The blinkers are on and he looks a definite first four proposition - one of two in the tangerine in this race. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.

4:00 p.m. R8 10 Cognito (6 g So You Think – Lady Primrose) – Courtney Barnes; he was unable to quicken over the sprint trip in a trial on 17 August at Taupo, and resumes in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1580 metres. He has been a Group Two winner over 1400 metres, and a course winner over 1400 metres who was runner-up in Listed War Decree Stakes (1600m). While he has been out of form of Latem, the move south is looking to spark him up - he does race well fresh so a top four finish would not surprise.  Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.40.

Caulfield:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: true. 4mls rain forecast Friday and 8mls Saturday.

6:10 p.m. (NZ) ~ 4:10 p.m. (Vic) R8 8 Damask Rose (4 m Savabeel – Sombreuil) – Blake Shinn; she launched undeniable finish to win the $1.5 million RL TAB Karaka Millions 3YO over 1600m and sprinted clear after coming from last to win the $3.5 million RL NZB Kiwi (1500m) last season, both with Shinn aboard, before spelling. A nominee for New Zealand Champion Three-Year-Old, she found the line solidly for fourth in a jump out on 18 August at Cranbourne, and for her Australian debut, resumes in the A$200,000 Group 3 Evergreen Turf Cockram Stakes 1200m - a race won previously by the stable with dual Horse of the Year Probabeel and also Quintessa last season. A four-time winner to 1600 metres, Damask Rose has won over $2.2 million in prize money, has the ability to sprint well fresh and rates a top four chance from barrier one. NZ TAB fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.60. 

Main picture - To Bravery Born winning the first 2YO race of 2024/25 at Wanganui a year ago