Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Saturday 18 October at Ellerslie in Auckland, New Zealand, and five horses entered at Caulfield (Melbourne) and Bendigo (Victoria).

Ellerslie: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 5.5 metres. Showers forecast. 

2:39 p.m. R5 11 Carsolio (3 g Bivouac – Whitehaven) – Opie Bosson; he finished well from a handy position for a close second in the Rating 72 970m on 24 September at Cambridge (poly-track), and drops in grade for this $55,000 Rating 65 1100 metres. He resumed with a sound win in the Maiden 1000 metres on 17 August at Taupo, put in a solid effort last time and he finds a good opportunity to race well again from barrier six - the first of a stable duo lining up in the race. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $3.00.

2:39 p.m. R5 12 Charmrose (5 m Charm Spirit – Sovereign Rose) – Sage Duric (a4); she began smartly to lead, travelled keenly, took the advantage in the straight and kept finding plenty to win a trial on 23 September at Te Rapa. Resuming in the Rating 65 1100 metres, the Te Akau Australia apprentice brings weight relief to 53.5kg, she’s ideally drawn (2) to race in or near the lead, and remember she was beaten by just a nose at her only previous course attempt. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $3.00.

3:14 p.m. R6 1 Hakkinen (4 g Savabeel – Miss Scandinavia) – Sam McNab (a3); he ran home very well to grab the win in a trial on 23 September at Te Rapa, and resumes in the $55,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. He was a smart Maiden winner over 1600 metres, and finished fourth in both the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) here, then had a break after the Group 1 NZ Derby.  He has undoubted ability, and will appreciate the weight reduction to 58.5kg. While his pedigree and his racing style underlines he is destined for further, he will likely seek cover from his wide draw (11) and expect to him he hitting the line very strongly. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.90.

3:49 p.m. R7 4 Queen’s Evidence (3 f King’s Legacy – Enjay) – Opie Bosson; she dashed through for third following an economical trip when resuming in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) on 6 September and fought on well after a really tough trip in the Group 3 Sunline Vase (1400m) on 20 September, both here at Ellerslie. Contesting the $175,000 Group 2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), she looked good in an exhibition gallop last Friday at Taupo, and is drawn (5) to be competitive in this quality field. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.00.

4:59 p.m. R9 10 Quintessa (5 m Shamus Award – Chaquinta) – Opie Bosson; she kept her unbeaten fresh-up record intact with a stunning victory in the Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m) here on 6 September, and quickened home nicely from back in the field for second in trial on 6 October at Awapuni. Contesting the $550,000 Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m), she is a dual Group One winner to 1600 metres that was also second in the Group 2 Alistair Clark Stakes (2040m) and fourth in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) in Australia. She is a talented mare but has again drawn the outside gate (9) but it didn’t stop her last start, so we are hoping for a repeat performance. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.70. 

5:34 p.m. R10 1 Balance Of Power (5 g Almanzor – Respin) – Sam McNab (a3); he ran on well after being caught back and wide when resuming in the Rating 75 1600 metres here on 6 September, also with Sam McNab aboard. He also looked in great order, and performed accordingly, in an exhibition gallop last Friday at Taupo. One of two stablemates contesting the $55,000 Rating 75 1600 metres, the apprentice engagement sees him carry 57.5kg - he ended his last campaign winning three of five starts to 2000 metres, and is perfectly drawn drawn (4) to bring top four credentials to the contest. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.80.

5:34 p.m. R10 10 War Of Succession (5 g Tavistock – Ziffel) – Opie Bosson; he came out of the pack with a strong finish for second when resuming in the $55,000 Rating 75 1600 metres here on 20 September, likewise with Bosson aboard, and contests the corresponding race. He too has a solid course/distance record, has drawn a positive barrier (4), and can deliver a top three finish. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $2.10.

Caulfield:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast. 

2:50 p.m. (NZ) ~ 12:50 p.m. (Vic) R2 8 Mcwoody (3 c Alabama Express – Queen Ouija) – Patrick Moloney; he surged through late for debut victory in the Maiden 1590 metres on 16 September at Wodonga, also with Moloney aboard, and circled from last to win a 1200-metre jump out on 6 October at Cranbourne in preparation for this. Contesting the A$240,000 Group 3 Sportsbet Classic (2000m), he meets a small but classy field and will relish the opportunity to measure up against these staying type three-year-olds. NZ TAB fixed odds: $18.00 & $3.50. 

3:25 p.m. (NZ) ~ 1:25 p.m. (Vic)  R3 12 Future Frankie (3 f Frankel – Mirai E) – Daniel Stackhouse; she ran home strongly from last to finish third when debuting in the Maiden 1600 metres on 10 October at Cranbourne, and contests the A$240,000 Group 3 Schweppes Ethereal Stakes (2000m) for three-year-old fillies. Bred to stay, she is by the world’s highest rated sire in Frankel (Galileo), and is out of a mare by Champion Sire Deep Impact (Sunday Silence). Perfectly drawn (2) she could well surprise the market with a top three result.  NZ TAB fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.50.

5:10 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:10 p.m. (Vic) R6 6 Geegees Mistruth (4 m Wordsmith – Miss Mana) – Patrick Moloney; she settled last and was held up behind runners in 1000-metre jump out on 23 September at Cranbourne. Having her first start for Te Akau trainer Mark Walker in the A$300,000 Group 2 Herald Sun Sprint (1000m), she is sweetly drawn (3) to build on her record of six wins to 1400 metres from only 12 starts. A dual winner fresh-up, she also boasts a solid course record and, whilst overlooked in the market, she has any amount of ability. NZ TAB fixed odds: $31.00 & $5.00.

7:45 p.m. (NZ) ~ 5:45 p.m. (Vic) R7 11 Chateau Eze (3 f Frankel – Antibes) – Daniel Stackhouse; she quickened clear for a smart debut victory in the Maiden 3YO Fillies 1212 metres on 2 September at Benalla, and stepped up with very good second in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m) here on 20 September, also with former Te Akau apprentice Stackhouse aboard. She finished second in a 1000-metre jump out on 6 October at Cranbourne, and contests the A$1.5 million Schweppes Thousand Guineas (600m). She meets the best of her age and sex, and is another on the day that requires luck from a niggly wide draw (11). NZ TAB fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.20. 

Bendigo:

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

6:46 p.m. (NZ) ~ 4:46 p.m. (Vic) R6 10 Sky Sista (4 m Overshare – Woogie) – Luke Cartwright (a1); she was held up in the trail before rallying through late for fifth when resuming in the Benchmark 66 1300 metres for Fillies & Mares on 24 September at Sandown.  Contesting the A$27,000 Benchmark 62 1300 metres, she was a winner over 1300 metres in May, is having only her fifth start, and is ideally drawn (2) to prove competitive. 

Main photo ~ Quintessa winning Group 1 honours at Trentham.