Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 14 horses entered on Saturday 8 November: Pukekohe and Riccarton in New Zealand and one horse at Flemington, Melbourne.?

Pukekohe: 

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 5 metres. 10mls rain forecast Saturday.

1:26 p.m. R2 7 Miss Perna (2 f Satono Aladdin – If Perhaps) – Corentin Berge; she received an economical trip in third position and ran home solidly for second when trialling on 30 October at Taupo. Debuting in the $40,000 2YO 1100 metres, she hails from an outstanding family of Group One winners, and she’s ideally drawn (4) to give a good account of herself at her first ever raceday start. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.75.

4:20 p.m. R7 1 Age Of Discovery (4 g Savabeel – Bayrock) – Matt Cameron; he was denied room when looking to improve in the Rating 70 1150 metres on October at Te Aroha, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. He impressed winning last season, and was the 2000 Guineas’ favourite for a time before being injured. He has the visor blinkers on, and he will be searching for return to form. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.15.

5:00 p.m. R8 1 War Of Succession (5 g Tavistock – Ziffel) – Haylie Hassman (a3); he resumed with a strong finish for second in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 20 September and won dominantly in the corresponding race on 18 October, both at Ellerslie. Remaining in same grade for $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres, he has the benefit of the apprentice weight relief to 57.5kg - a rider he has combined with previously for a win. While he does meet a good field, if he can secure some luck in running for the dreadful barrier (17) he can be right in the thick of things at the finish. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.85. 

Riccarton: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:39 p.m. R3 1 Insatiable (6 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Rory Hutchings; he travelled three back on the inner and ran home well for fourth when resuming in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 11 October at Ashburton. Contesting the $65,000 Rating 75 1100 metres, he boasts a good course record, and raced well at this time last year. He does carry top weight (61.5kg) but definitely has the ability to rate a genuine top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.20 & $1.20. Note he is also accepted in Race 6.

1:10 p.m. R4 13 Options Open (3 f Darci Brahma – Optimiser) – Bruno Queiroz; she finished well out of midfield when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 9 October at Timaru, has been given time (30 days) to get over that assignment, and contests the $30,000 Maiden 1200 metres. She has been a filly that has been solid through trials’ stage, she found the line nicely when debuting as two-year-old, and she has definite first four claims. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.45.

2:16 p.m. R6 6 Insatiable (6 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Bruno Queiroz; he travelled three back on the inner and ran home well for fourth when resuming in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 11 October at Ashburton.  Potentially contesting the $90,000 Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000 metres), he boasts a good course record, and raced well at this time last year. He is talented enough to prove competitive but it’s another tricky barrier possibly standing in his way (11). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00. 

2:48 p.m. R7 1 Captured By Love (4 m Written Tycoon – Moldova) – Bruno Queiroz; she got back from her outside gate (14), circled and ran home strongly for second when resuming in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 10 October at Taupo. Contesting the $120,000 Group 3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), she recorded classy Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas victory here last season. She’s a high quality multiple Group winner, and despite yet again copping the outside gate (14) she still looks a top three prospect. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.45.

3:24 p.m. R8 3 Elegant Lady (6 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Craig Grylls; she got back on the inner and ran home down the outside in fastest last 600m (34.2) for sixth in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) here on 25 October. One of two stablemates lining up in the $100,000 Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m), she’s notched up four wins to 2200 metres, is twice stakes’ placed to 2400m, sports a good course/distance record, and she really can make her presence felt in this even field. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.35.

3:24 p.m. R8 8 Court Of Appeal (5 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel) – Bruno Queiroz; she raced away to win by four lengths in the Open Handicap 2200 metres on 11 October at Ashburton, with Queiroz aboard, and likewise contests the $100,000 Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy.  She has won two of three starts this campaign, and is a mare who seems to be coming of age as staying individual.  There is a sense of timing about her and despite being another with a terrible draw (14), she has the ability to overcome that obstacle and deliver a positive result. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.90.

4:01 p.m. R9 7 Cognoscenti (4 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Rory Hutchings; he travelled three back on the inner and finished strongly for second when resuming in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 31 October at Ashburton. Contesting the $65,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, be brings a solid race record to this battle, and looks a top four chance with luck from … you guessed it, his wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.25.

4:41 p.m. R10 2 Cool Aza Rene (3 f Cool Aza Beel – Irene) – Bruno Queiroz; she emphatically won the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) on 11 October at Ashburton, also with Queiroz aboard, and contests the $600,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). She has won five of her eight starts to 1400 metres, recording two wins on this course. While she brings a good mix of talent and tenacity, she will need a lot to go her way from her wide draw (12) - the first of a Te Akau quartet competing in the day’s feature. Fixed odds: $27.00 & $5.00.

4:41 p.m. R10 9 Belle Du Monde (3 f Zoustar – Lady Cartier) – Rory Hutchings; she finished strongly for fourth in the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes on 11 October at Ashburton, won by Cool Aza Rene (above), and also contests the Group 1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas. She won here fresh-up in August, gives every impression she will appreciate the mile, and is ideally drawn (4) to give this field a shake. Fixed odds: $41.00 & $6.50.

4:41 p.m. R10 10 Origin Of Love (3 f Snitzel – Re Edit) – Joe Doyle; the third representative for the stable, she was poised in the trail when winning the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) here on 25 October, also with Doyle aboard. She likewise lines up in the Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas. Unbeaten in two starts on the course to 1600 metres, she is racing very well on her first preparation, and brings right form to break some hearts here. Fixed odds: $17.00 & $3.70.

4:41 p.m. R10 11 Belle Cheval (3 f Savabeel – Keepa Cheval) – Sam Weatherley; she finish strongly for third when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres on 10 October at Taupo, and raced clear over concluding stages to win the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 25 October at Ellerslie by 2.5 lengths. Stepping up in the Group 1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas, she ran a terrific last 600m (33.3) when winning, and has certainly progressed well since. Despite her awkward draw (9) and the loss of rider Opie Bosson, watch for her to be flying home down the long Riccarton straight. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.90.

Te Akau has won the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) seven times, most recently last year (2024) with Captured By Love (Written Tycoon). 

5:21 p.m. R11 4 Vivacious (5 m Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Rory Hutchings; she travelled boldly beyond midfield and was unfortunately ran out of room when seeking to improve in the Rating 75 1200 metres fresh up here on 25 October. Contesting the $65,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, she’s delivered back-to-back poly-track course victories to 1400 metres in May/June, and she is definitely up to making asn impact with luck from wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.45. 

Main photo - Captured By Love winning last year's Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas

Flemington:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: to be confirmed. 20mls rain forecast Saturday. 

3:15 p.m. (NZ) - 1:15 p.m. (Vic) R2 8 Jenni’s Meadow (4 m Brutal – Meadow) – Beau Mertens; she settled back on the inner and ran home well behind a wall of horses when resuming in the Benchmark 84 1440 metres on 15 October at Caulfield. Contesting the A$150,000 Benchmark 84 1600 metres, she is the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) winner, and has been a Group Two & Three runner-up over 2000 metres. Her stats include being a course/distance winner, and there is a lot to recommend her in this field.  NZ TAB fixed odds: $13.00 & $3.80.