Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 10 horses entered on Saturday 20 September at Ellerslie in Auckland, New Zealand, and three horses entered at Caulfield, Melbourne, Australia.

Ellerslie: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft5, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast. 

11:55 a.m. R1 7 High Roller (4 g Ace High – Miss Thorn) – Opie Bosson; he finished solidly for second in a trial on 12 August at Avondale, also with Bosson aboard, and resumes in the $30,000 Maiden 1200 metres. He was beaten only a nose and a nose when debuting here last season over 1300 metres, and his dam placed in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes over 1200m. While he is  capable of a solid showing fresh up, he will need the champion jockey’s skill-set to navigate his awkward draw (9). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

12:30 p.m. R2 2 Fury Of Flight (3 c Zoustar – Ready To Soar) – Wiremu Pinn; he got back got back last on a competitive pace and sustained a big effort to dead heat for second in his trial on 26 August at Waipa. Resuming in the $30,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, he has won four trials, and finished third on debut as two-year-old last season. He is a striking colt who looks ready to kick off his three year old season with good showing - one of two in the race for the team. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.20.  

12:30 p.m. R2 10 Avantaggia (3 f Wootton Bassett – Avantage) – Opie Bosson; trialling at Waipa on 26 August, she began well settling in fourth, and quickened with a good action to win nicely.  The first foal out of Te Akau’s star mare and nine-time Group One winner Avantage, herself a debut winner, she makes her debut in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. She does have early speed which may be required to negate the difficult barrier (10) and will take great benefit out of her first race day experience.  Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.65.

3:25 p.m. R7 1 Trobriand (5 g Kermadec – Arboreal) – Hayley Hassman (a3); he won a trial under a hold in August at Taupo, and looked good in an exhibition gallop here on 6 September. The first of two Te Akau runners resuming in the $55,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, he has the benefit of weight relief to 57.5kg. He was the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes winner here (on the grass track), has placed three times at Group Three level to 1600 metres, and has also finished fourth in two Group One races. Three of his five wins have come over this 1200 metre distance, and he looks a rates a top three chance from barrier two. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

3:25 p.m. R7 6 Celestial Wonder (4 m Xtravagant – Meteoric Lass) – Opie Bosson; she won a 3YO 1100 metre race here in May, and she has recorded two strong seconds in trials on the course since. Also resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres, she was an impressive Maiden winner, who finished second in Listed O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes over 1340m last season. She has compiled a very good record in her brief career to date but she unfortunately has a nightmare gate (17) to overcome. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05. 

4:00 p.m. R8 4 Queen’s Evidence (3 f King’s Legacy – Enjay) – Opie Bosson; she dashed through for third following economical trip when resuming in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) here on 6 September, won by race rival Lollapalooza, and contests the $150,000 Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase over 1400m. She won comfortably on debut before finishing fourth in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) and second in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) last season. She is more than capable of being right in the thick of the action at the business end - if she secures a decent trip from barrier eight. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.20. 

4:40 p.m. R9 5 My Lips Are Sealed (5 m Ace High – Tellmeaboutit) – Opie Bosson; she was not under any pressure when running on solidly for third in a trial here on 28 August, and is one of two Te Akau mares resuming in the $65,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres. She won the Group 3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) in dominant fashion in January at Trentham, and has the ability to act well when fresh. This is a great opportunity for her to kick off her new campaign with a bold showing if she handles the course at first attempt. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.35.

4:40 p.m. R9 7 Captured By Love (4 m Written Tycoon – Moldova) – Craig Grylls; trialling here on 9 September, she was patiently ridden from barrier one, tracked up boldly in the straight, got the split inside the 200m, and finished strongly to win. The classy winner of the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas last season, she also contests the Open Handicap 1400 metres. She’s a high quality multiple Group winner and will be ready to resume with a bang. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.50. 

5:15 p.m. R10 3 Family Ties (6 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Hayley Hassman (a3); she steadied back to last from an outside gate in a trial here on 9 September, was five lengths off the leaders at the 600m, angled widest at the 300m, and ran home strongly for third. One of two stablemates resuming in the $55,000 Rating 75 1600 metres, the stable apprentice engagement provides weight relief to 56.5kg. She is a stakes’ winner over 1800 metres, a very genuine performer, and while she is likely get back from her wide draw (11), look for her to be running home strongly. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.70. 

5:15 p.m. R10 9 War Of Succession (5 g Tavistock – Ziffel) – Opie Bosson; he recorded back-to-back wins on this course to 2100 metres in May and June, and looked good for a staying horse over a sprint trip in a trial here on 9 September. Likewise coming in fresh for the Rating 75 1600 metres, he boasts solid course/distance credentials, and appears capable of commencing his new racing campaign with a confident showing from barrier five. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30. 

Caulfield:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 6 metres. Showers forecast.

4:30 p.m. (NZ) ~ 2:30 p.m. (Vic) R5 8 Cinturato (3 g Shamus Award – Pirellina) – Michael Dee; he ran on well for third after trailing when debuting in the Maiden 1100 metres on 17 August at Sale, also with Dee aboard, and steps up in class for the A$300,000 Group 3 Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas over 1400m. By Australian Champion Three-Year-Old Shamus Award (Snitzel), the first three-year-old to win the Group 1 Cox Plate and Group 1 Australian Guineas’ double. His dam Pirellina (Gio Ponti) won twice over 1600 metres, and he in turn is out of Group 1 Doomben Cup (2020m) winner Cinque Cento (Nothin’ Leica Dane). His breeding suggests he will being suited to the increased distance, but he is stepping into a tougher environment. NZ TAB fixed odds: $34.00 & $6.00.

5:05 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:05 p.m. (Vic) R6 12 Chateau Eze (3 f Frankel – Antibes) – Daniel Stackhouse; she quickened clear for smart debut victory in the Maiden 3YO Fillies 1212 metres on 2 September at Benalla, and steps up in class for the A$175,000 Listed Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m) for Three-Year-Old Fillies. She is by the highest rated sire in the world, Frankel (Galileo), and her grand-dam A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice) was a dual Group Three winner over 1200 metres; she in turn is out of Group 3 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) winner Procrastinate (Jade Hunter). She certainly faces a tougher assignment but time will be her friend and she’s one to watch in the future. NZ TAB fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.10.

6:20 p.m. (NZ) ~ 4:20 p.m. (Vic) R8 10 Damask Rose (4 m Savabeel – Sombreuil) – Michael Dee; she ran the fastest sectionals of the day, including the final 600m (34.3), circling from last for a close up fifth when resuming in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) here on 30 August. Contesting the A$1 million Group 1 Sportsbet Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m, she won the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) last season in New Zealand. A four-time winner to 1600 metres, with over $2.2 million earned in prize money, she’s undoubtedly a class act, but requires ma huge dose of good luck from the outside draw (17). NZ TAB fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.80.

Main picture - Damask Rose winning the inaugural NZB Kiwi