Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Saturday 4 October at Matamata, New Zealand, and five horses entered at Flemington, Melbourne, and Murtoa/Marma, Victoria.

Matamata: 

Weather: showery, track: Heavy10, rail: true. 8mls rain forecast Friday and 9mls Saturday.

1:02 p.m. R1 6 Luvabeel (4 m Savabeel – O’Lovely) – Opie Bosson; she received an economical trip on the inner and closed strongly for second when resuming in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 17 September at Taupo, also with Opie Bosson aboard. Contesting the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres, she ran home well for second when trialling on Heavy10 in August at Avondale, has continued to improve and if she can handle the track, she has to be a top three contender.  Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.25.

1:36 p.m. R2 7 Age Of Discovery (4 g Savabeel – Bayrock) – Opie Bosson; he yielded over the concluding stages but had an excuse, after having to work wide near the pace in the Rating 75 1300 metres on 6 September at Ellerslie, with Bosson on top on that occasion too. He has been given time (28 days) to bounce back and, contesting the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, he has impressed winning on good ground so there is a question mark over how adept he will be in the heavy conditions. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.35.

3:20 p.m. R5 1 Hakkinen (4 g Savabeel – Miss Scandinavia) – Sam McNab (a3); he ran home very well to grab a trial win (Heavy9) on 23 September at Te Rapa, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. A smart Maiden winner over 1600 metres here on good footing, he was fourth in both the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), and then spelled following the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m). He has undoubted ability, and the apprentice weight relief to 58.5kg is a plus. His performance to date indicates he will need further distance, and much will also depend on whether this footing is in his comfort zone. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

4:37 p.m. R7 6 My Lips Are Sealed (5 m Ace High – Tellmeaboutit) – George Rooke; she found the line after circling widest from back in the field when resuming in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 20 September at Ellerslie, and contests the $80,000 Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup over 1600m. She won the Group 3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) in dominant fashion last season at Trentham,  and two of her four wins have come on heavy tracks. She has also been a winner on her home course, where she has compiled a good record - she is more than up to the challenge and can play a prominent part.  Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.45.

5:12 p.m. R8 1 Accidental Tourist (6 g Telperion – Megara) – Opie Bosson; the first of three stable runners in this race, he found the line for seventh when second-up in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 14 September at Te Rapa, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. An impressive winner on Heavy10 going to 1600 metres, he does carry the top weight (60.5kg) and has drawn wide (13), but whether that is a negative at this time of the day, remains to be seen. He is capable of further improvement at short notice. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.60.

5:12 p.m. R8 2 Balance Of Power (5 g Almanzor – Respin) – Sam McNab (a3); the second of the stable trio in the Rating 75 1600m, he ran on well after being caught back and wide when resuming in the corresponding event on 6 September at Ellerslie, likewise with Sam McNab aboard. He was given time to recover (28 days), having ended his previous campaign in great form, including a course win over 2000 metres. While he is likely suited to better going, he is nevertheless a versatile performer, and with weight relief to 57.5kg, he can deliver a top three finish if he handles the track conditions. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50.

5:12 p.m. R8 6 El Viento (5 g El Roca – Mandeville) – Warren Kennedy; the final starter for the team on Saturday, he found the line belatedly after racing wide when resuming in the Rating 75 1300 metres on 6 September at Ellerslie, and after that he too has been given time (28 days). With three wins to 1600 metres, he has twice been a winner here on his home course over 1400 metres, and while he is yet to race on heavy ground, some progeny of his sire El Roca (Fastnet Rock) have handled it. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.00. 

Flemington:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 9 metres. No rain forecast.

3:55 p.m. (NZ) ~ 12:55 p.m. (Vic) R2 3 Harry Met Sally (2 c Yes Yes Yes – Agueda) – Michael Dee; he tracked his rivals before quickening well for second in a jump out here on 25 September, with Dee aboard, and debuts in the A$175,000 Listed Darley Maribyrnong Trial Stakes over 1000m. By Australian Champion Three-Year-Colt and A$13 million Everest (1200m) winner Yes Yes Yes (Rubick), he is out of the dual winning sprinter Agueda (General Nediym), who was also multiple times Group and Listed placed. He meets field of debutantes and much depends on the pattern of racing as to whether barrier 11 proves beneficial on the straight course - one of two juveniles contesting the event for our Australian stable. NZ TAB fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50.

3:55 p.m. (NZ) ~ 12:55 p.m. (Vic) R2 7 Flash Of Class (2 f Capitalist – Flashing Speed) – Craig Williams; she was held together when finishing fifth in a quiet jump out here on 25 September, with Williams aboard, and also debuts in the Listed Darley Maribyrnong Trial Stakes. By Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Capitalist (Written Tycoon), she’s out of Flashing Speed (War Pass), a dual winner from only four starts to 1250 metres. While it is very difficult to line-up our duo’s prospects in a field of debutantes, it’s a positive that the top jockey has elected to ride her. NZ TAB fixed odds: $34.00 & $7.50.

4:30 p.m. (NZ) ~ 1:30 p.m. (Vic) R3 9 Azazel (3 g Shocking – Alagant Angel) – Michael Dee; he displayed plenty of grit and determination to score narrowly when debuting in the Maiden 1600 metres on 11 September at Seymour (Victoria), and steps up in class for the A$175,000 Listed Super Impose Stakes over 1800m for three-year-olds. He certainly had fitness on his side to win first-up,  and has trained on well - he also has the pedigree to handle distance, and he looks ideally drawn (6) to prove competitive. NZ TAB fixed odds: $17.00 & $3.90.

Murtoa/Marma:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: true. No rain forecast.

4:11 p.m. (NZ) ~ 1:11 p.m. (Vic) R1 6 Signoretti (3 g Hello Youmzain – I Am Grande) – Liam Riordan; he let down nicely for second after racing on pace in a jump out on 22 September at Cranbourne, and resumes in the A$32,000 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres. He notched up two second placings from three starts last season, has good gate speed, uses himself well with a confident racing manner, and rates a top three chance first-up.

5:21 p.m. (NZ) ~ 2:21 p.m. (Vic) R3 16 Crismera (3 f Frankel – Dice Game) – Ryan Houston (a); she was collared after racing handily and taking an early lead when debuting in the Maiden 1590 metres on 16 September at Wodonga. Contesting the A$32,000 Maiden 1600 metres, she is beautifully bred, being by the highest rated sire in the world, Frankel (Galileo). Out of an unraced mare by Champion Sire Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway), she looks bred to stay and whilst ideally drawn (4), she sits fourth on the ballot currently and needs further defections to make the field.

Main picture - My Lips Are Sealed wins the Group 3 Phar Lap Stakes