Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Saturday 10 January at Wanganui, New Zealand, and one horse entered at Flemington, Melbourne.

Wanganui:  

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

12:25 p.m. R1 12 Petite Rocher (3 f Grunt – Little Rock) – Hayley Hassman (a3); she began well to travel handily in fourth, ranged three-wide rounding the home turn, and sustained a stout finish to win  trial on 16 December at Avondale. Debuting in the $25,000 Maiden 1340 metres, she does have the benefit of weight relief to 52kg with Hayley also knowing her well. She’s by dual Group One winner and Group One producer Grunt (O’Reilly), is bred on the successful Grunt/Fastnet Rock cross, and she can start off her racing career in positive fashion if the wide gate (14) can be overcome.  Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.55.

1:30 p.m. R3 3 Queen’s Evidence (3 f King’s Legacy – Enjay) – Wiremu Pinn; she began well to race outside the leader and fought well for fourth when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 11 December at Ellerslie. Contesting the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres, she is a promising filly who has been twice stakes-placed over 1200 metres, a really genuine type, and her work indicates a top three finish could well be on the cards. Fixed odds: $2.05 & $1.15.

2:11 p.m. R4 4 Egyptian Queen (5 m Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Hayley Hassman (a3); she remained back in a Group & Listed trial on 19 December at Matamata, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. We are lucky to have her back racing after an eye infection threatened to end her career.  She has been patiently handled by her supportive owners and our team, giving her plenty of time to recover. She placed in the Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes over 1340m at only previous course attempt, and has the plus of weight relief to 55kg. She has shown in the past she does race well when fresh but she too has the job ahead of her from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10.

Flemington:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 6 metres. No rain forecast. 

3:25 p.m. (NZ time) R3 11 Seven Oceans (3 f Flying Artie – With Purpose) – Luke Currie; she circled from last with a strong finish for second in the Benchmark 62 1000 metres on 19 December at Cranbourne. Prior to that start, she came from second last with staunch finish for second in the Benchmark 62 1000 metres on 27 November at Mornington. Contesting the A$150,000 3YO Fillies 1100 metres, she does have to handle the step up in class, but her racing style appears suited to this course and she has the benefit of an ideal draw (4). NZ TAB fixed odds: $26.00 & $5.50. 

Main picture - Egyptian Queen winning