Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Saturday 20 December: Te Rapa and Trentham in New Zealand, and one horse entered at Caulfield in Melbourne.?

Te Rapa:  

Weather: showery, track: Soft6, rail: out 3 metres. Showers forecast.

1:54 p.m. R3 2 Balance Of Power (5 g Almanzor – Respin) – Ryan Elliot; he raced in a handy position but was unable to quicken in the Rating 75 2100 metres on 22 November at Pukekohe, has been taken along patiently, and contests the $45,000 Rating 75 2100 metres. He ended his previous campaign winning three of five starts to 2000 metres, has finished fourth on the course/distance, and receives an ideal opportunity to show improvement with things go his way from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.80.

4:50 p.m. R8 1 Hakkinen (4 g Savabeel – Miss Scandinavia) – Sam McNab (a3); he raced well without threatening when finishing sixth in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 22 November at Pukekohe, has been given time (28 days) to come through that, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. A winner over 1600 metres, he was fourth in both the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) last season. He will appreciate the weight relief to 58kg, and he certainly does possess the ability to prove competitive with a good dose of luck from his wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.05.?

Trentham:  

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 6 metres. Showers forecast.

2:14 p.m. R3 4 Lara Antipova (2 f Russian Revolution – Artistic Lass) – Craig Grylls; she made a real impact when she bolted in by eight lengths on debut in the Maiden 2YO 1150 metres on 7 December at Te Aroha, and contests the $175,000 Group 2 Windsor Park Stud Wakefield Challenge Stakes over 1100m. By dual Group One winning sprinter Russian Revolution (Snitzel), it was a terrific first-up win, and if she replicates anything close to that, she will be right in the thick of this against mostly unknown juvenile company. Fixed odds: $1.65 & $1.05.

Te Akau has won the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes five times, most recently in 2023 with Captured By Love (Written Tycoon). 

2:57 p.m. R4 3 Origin Of Love (3 f Snitzel – Re Edit) – Vinnie Colgan; she fought well for fifth after racing outside the leader in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) on 8 November at Riccarton, and cruised home stylishly for second in a trial on 9 December at Timaru. Resuming in the $100,000 Group 3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m), she won Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) in October, brings a good record to this contest, and rates a top three chance from her good gate (3). Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.40.

Te Akau has won the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes five times, most recently in 2021 with Belle En Rouge (Burgundy), who became the stable’s eighth New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year. 

4:42 p.m. R7 6 What You Wish For (5 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Bruno Queiroz; he got back and travelled wide before running the fastest last 600m (33.5) for a close up sixth in the Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m) on 22 November at Pukekohe, and was held together while finishing solidly for third in a trial there on 9 December. Contesting the $120,000 Group 3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), he has been a solid Group performer, is building nicely and is more than able to prove competitive - but is yet another who needs to overcome a difficult barrier (12). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.35. 

5:17 p.m. R8 1 Legally Binding (4 g Exceedance – Legal Eagle) – Liam Kauri (a3); he raced on pace and fought well for third in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 15 November at Riccarton, and wasn’t under any pressure when finishing nicely for third in a trial on 9 December at Timaru. Contesting the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, he won in this grade and over the distance two starts ago, the apprentice provides weight relief to 57.5kg, and he looks a top three contender from barrier three. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80. 

Caulfield:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 6 metres 1600 – 1050m, remainder true. No rain forecast. 

4:35 p.m. (NZ) - 2:35 p.m. (Vic) R5 9 Kiss Me In Paris (2 f Capitalist – Fromparis Withlove) – Craig Williams; she displayed good pace to lead when winning a jump out with ease on 8 December at Cranbourne, and debuts in the A$250,000 Magic Millions Victoria 2YO Classic (1100 metres). She was bought by David Ellis CNZM at the Gold Coast Magic Millions’ sale this year and is by Group 1 Golden Slipper winner and Champion Two-Year-Old Capitalist (Written Tycoon), from a stakes’ placed mare that won three races to 1400 metres. It is tough to assess her chances in this field of mainly debutantes, but her trial win was good, she is handily drawn (5), and has one of the best in the saddle. NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.05. 

Main picture - Origin of Love winning