Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Saturday 29 November: Ellerslie and Wanganui in New Zealand, and three horses entered at Caulfield in Melbourne.

Ellerslie: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 4 metres. 6mls rain forecast Friday and no rain Saturday. 

12:29 p.m. R1 3 Enchantment (2 f Hello Youmzain – Belle Fascino) – Vinnie Colgan; she began well to lead, quickened to take the advantage at the 300m, and sustained a strong gallop to win a trial on 14 November at Avondale, also with Colgan aboard. She has been given time away and has been patiently handled and resumes in the $30,000 2YO 1100 metres. She fought well for third on heavy ground when debuting in September, her dam Belle Fascino (Per Incanto) was a dual Group Three winner over 1600 metres, among her 10 career wins, and this filly’s trial win suggested her readiness to race well fresh up. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.85.

12:29 p.m. R1 7 First Light (2 f Savabeel – Early Morning Rise) – Wiremu Pinn; the second of our juveniles stepping out in the 2YO 1100m is on debit - she began smartly from her outside gate to cross and lead inside the 600m, cornered well, and kept up a really good gallop for second in her trial on 14 November at Avondale. Her family has excelled over more distance, but she shows natural precocity and is ideally drawn (2) to race well first-up. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $1.85.

1:40 p.m. R3 10 Woman In Charge (3 f Farnan – Rosetta) – Craig Grylls; she finished strongly from beyond midfield to grab third in the Pearl Series Maiden 1200 metres on 6 November at Avondale, and is having her first start for the stable in the $30,000 Maiden 1300 metres. Placed in all three starts to date, she brings the right form to this contest to rate a serious contender from barrier six. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.95.

3:33 p.m. R6 1 Towering Vision (3 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision) – Wiremu Pinn; he closed the margin boldly for fifth when resuming in the 3YO 1400 metres here on 4 November, and contests the $100,000 Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO over 1500m. He won the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes 1400m in May, and then was spelled following a good second here in the Listed Champagne Stakes 1600m. He brings the right record to this race to certainly be considered a top three chance from barrier four. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.95. 

4:07 p.m. R7 2 Charmrose (5 m Charm Spirit – Sovereign Rose) – Hayley Hassman (a3); she kept going strongly to win after leading when resuming in the Rating 65 1100 metres here on 18 October, and adopted similar tactics to win the Rating 75 1200 metres on 15 November at Tauranga. Remaining in same grade for the $55,000 Rating 75 1100 metres, she will relish the weight relief to 54.5kg, she clearly likes the course, and from barrier two has every opportunity to continue her winning record. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.15.

Wanganui: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

3:05 p.m. R6 8 Marokopa Falls (3 f Hellbent – Beside You) – Bruno Queiroz; she was steadied to last and made ground down the outside for fifth in the 3YO 1200 metres on 1 November at Tauranga, won by race rival War Princess. Contesting the $80,000 Listed The O’Learys Fillies Classic 1340m, she debuted with an excellent victory and then finished fourth to stable-mate La Dorada in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes 1200m last season. She has a gate advantage, drawn (3) for an economical trip but does face a very good field.  Fixed odds: $11.00 & $2.90. 

Caulfield:

Weather: showers, track: Good4, rail: out 9 metres. 10mls rain forecast Friday and 8mls rain Saturday.

5:10 p.m. (NZ) - 3:10 p.m. (Vic) R6 8 Lyrics ‘N’ Song (3 f Written Tycoon – Melody Belle) – Michael Dee; she recorded a very good effort for a close up second when debuting in the Maiden 3YO Fillies 1200 metres on 3 October at Moonee Valley, and then won the 3YO 1200 metres on 31 October at Cranbourne with consummate ease, both with former Te Akau apprentice Dee aboard. Contesting the A$175,000 Listed Sportsbet Twilight Glow Stakes over 1400m for three-year-old fillies, she meets a stronger field but has definitely shown the ability to prove competitive if Michael can secure a decent trip from barrier seven. TAB fixed odds: $8.00 & $1.95.

5:45 p.m. (NZ) - 3:45 p.m. (Vic) R7 8 Jenni’s Meadow (4 m Brutal – Meadow) – Declan Bates; she unfortunately struck deteriorating conditions when getting back and running on in the Benchmark 84 1600 metres on 8 November at Flemington, and contests the A$200,000 Group 3 Henley Homes Eclipse Stakes over 1800m. She was the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) winner, has been Group Two & Three runner-up over 2000 metres, and is looking to improve but again it’s a tricky barrier (9) to overcome.  NZ TAB fixed odds: $19.00 & $4.20.

7:05 p.m. (NZ) - 5:05 p.m. (Vic)R9 1 Bellatrix Star (4 m Star Witness – Alana’s Party) – Mark Zahra; she finished well from last in a trial here on 20 November, and resumes in the A$175,000 Listed Tile Importer Doveton Stakes (1100m) after a lengthy injury break which was initially thought to see the end of her racing career. In her last racing preparation, she notched up a hat-trick of wins when scoring impressively in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) here in October last year. She then followed that with a terrific performance from last to finish second in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) against the older horses. She is a classy performer winning five of 11 starts, including four stakes’ wins, and while she carries the top weight (60kg), she has the champion jockey of the Spring engaged and has drawn the ace - we all wish her well for her return to racing. NZ TAB fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.00.