Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Saturday 3 January: Te Aroha and Trentham, New Zealand; two horses entered at Geelong, and one at Cranbourne in Victoria.

Te Aroha:  

Weather: showery, track: Heavy9, rail: true. 20mls rain forecast Saturday.

12:45 p.m. R2 2 Cool In Command (2 g Cool Aza Beel – Mountford) – Rory Hutchings; he began smartly to lead, winning the advantage mid-straight, and sustained a strong gallop to score nicely in a trial on 16 December at Avondale. Debuting in the $18,500 Maiden 2YO 1000 metres, by Te Akau bought and trained Champion Two-Year-Old Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel), he is out of a mare by Australian Champion Sire I Am Invincible, and hails from the family of Te Akau dual Horse of the Year and 14 time Group 1 winner Melody Belle. Fixed odds: $1.70 & $1.10.

2:28 p.m. R5 14 She Suits Herself (3 f Savile Row – Sleepy Girl) – Hayley Hassman (a3); she began well to race handily, but became unbalanced when buffeted rounding the home turn on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1600 metres on 19 December at Matamata. Contesting the $18,500 Maiden 1600 metres, she has the benefit of weight relief to 52kg. She sustained a solid gallop for second in a trial prior to racing, is from a talented staying family, and the progeny of the sire have shown to appreciate give in the ground. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

3:40 p.m. R7 11 Zantabulous (6 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Hayley Hassman (a3); she ran the fastest last 600m (35.3) on the day when getting home for third in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 19 December at Matamata, won by stable-mate and subsequent winner El Viento (El Roca), and contests the $25,000 Lockwood Thames-Coromandel East Waikato Gold Cup (Rating 75, 1600m). She has recorded three wins on soft and heavy ground, has weight relief to 52kg, has drawn the ace, and brings the right form to prove competitive in a solid field. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.00.

Trentham:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

1:39 p.m. R3 2 Out Of The Blue (2 g Tivaci – Cornflower Blue) – Craig Grylls; he won first two starts over 800 metres at Riccarton in impressive fashion, ran on near the rail for third in a trial on 16 December at Avondale, and resumes in the $100,000 Listed JR & N Berkett Wellesley Stakes  over 1100m. He meets a stronger field at stakes’ level, but he has done everything professionally thus far and has the talent to be seen as a top three chance from barrier two with the country’s leading rider engaged. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.40.

4:07 p.m. R7 11 La Dorada (3 f Super Seth – Gold Fever) – Craig Grylls; the first of two stable runners in the 3YO feature, she worked on speed and rallied well for fourth when resuming in the 3YO 1200 metres on 13 December at Te Rapa, won by stable-mate To Bravery Born.  Contesting the $400,000 Group 2 Levin Track Supporters Levin Classic 1400m), she was crowned last season’s Champion Two-Year-Old after impressively winning the Karaka Millions 2YO, Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes here at Trentham and the Group 2 J Swap Matamata Breeders’ Stakes.  She has drawn the ace, and a return to her best form would see her a definite top three chance. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.60.

4:07 p.m. R7 13 Sibling Rivalry (3 f Satono Aladdin – Justlikeyasister) – Wiremu Pinn; the other starters in the Group 2 Levin Classic for the team, she drew out to win the Maiden 3YO 1150 metres on 11 November at Te Aroha, and emulated that feat in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 6 December at Pukekohe, also with Pinn aboard. She is stepping up in this race for certain but she has displayed a good mix of talent and tenacity, and is also ideally drawn (4) to look to measure up at Group level. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.40.

Geelong:

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

3:25 p.m. (NZ) - 1:25 p.m. (Vic) R3 3 Golden Pulse (2 g Tivaci – Gold Fever) – Michael Dee; he finished second in a jump out on 17 November at Cranbourne, and won going away by two lengths on debut in the Maiden 2YO 1147 metres here on 4 December. Contesting the A$150,000 2YO 1100 metres, he is the half-brother to Te Akau bought and trained reigning Champion Two-Year-Old La Dorada (Super Seth), who also competes today. He does meet other race winners as he steps up in class, but brings the right form and talent to give his opponents something to think about. NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.15.

4:00 p.m. (NZ) - 2:00 p.m. (Vic) R4 9 Royal Rendezvous (3 g Royal Meeting – Alana’s Party) – Luke Cartwright (a2); he lifted after travelling wide to win a jump out on 17 November at Cranbourne, and powered home for an impressive debut victory in the Maiden 3YO 1000 metres on 7 December at Werribee. Contesting the A$150,000 3YO 1100 metres, he is from the second crop of European Group One winning two-year-old Royal Meeting (Invincible Spirit), and is the half-brother to four-time stakes’ winning stable-mate Bellatrix Star (Star Witness). He has the benefit of weight relief to 52kg, and while he meets much stronger field, he was a very good first-up winner and will be competitive with any luck from his awkward draw (9). NZ TAB fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.90.

Cranbourne:

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

8:40 p.m. (NZ) - 6:40 p.m. (Vic) R4 5 Astari (3 g Starspangledbanner – Belzella) – Liam Riordan; he was shuffled back after leading early when finishing sixth in the Benchmark 64 3YO 1200 metres on 10 December at Sandown, and contests the A$27,000 BM0–62 Handicap 1000 metres. While below his best last time, he did have some excuse, and he does deserve respect on his prior form with a win and second to kick off this campaign - he won fresh-up over 1100 metres, and can be right in the thick of things at the business end.

Main picture - Out Of The Blue