Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Saturday 31 January: Ellerslie and Trentham in New Zealand, and two horses entered at Caulfield, Melbourne.

Ellerslie:  

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft5, rail: out 10.5 metres 600m – 1700m, remainder out 7 metres. No rain forecast. 

1:30 p.m. R3 4 Carsolio (3 g Bivouac – Whitehaven) – Opie Bosson; he positioned nicely in fourth, was out widest into the straight, but still finished well without being pressured in a trial on 13 January at Tauranga. Resuming in the $35,000 Rating 65 1100 metres, he recorded a sound first-up win in the Maiden 1000 metres on 17 August at Taupo, he has shown he does have the ability to act well in a fresh state, but he needs a lot to go his way from his awkward gate (9). Fixed odds: $15.00 & $3.90.

4:28 p.m. R8 5 What You Wish For (5 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Matt Cameron; he came from last with a terrific finish to win the Taupo Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m) on 28 December at Taupo, and contests the $100,000 Listed Fulton Family Stakes over 1500m. Back in distance with a decent gap (34 days) between runs, he made a timely return to winning form, and while he does meet a strong field, he’s perfectly drawn (4) to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.40.

5:04 p.m. R9 1 Savoir Faire (6 g Savabeel – Etiquette) – Hayley Hassman (a3); he recovered after being tardily away on the inner, was seven lengths off the leaders at the 600m, and was not put under any pressure in a Group & Listed trial on 23 January at Matamata, also with Hassman aboard. Resuming in the $55,000 Rating 75 1500 metres, he has the benefit of weight relief to 57kg, and is having his first start since returning home from our Australian stable.  Whilst based at Cranbourne, n he was a triple winner over 2000 metres, brings a solid record over the mile, is ideally drawn (4) and has shown before that he can race well when fresh up - the first of two in the event for the team. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.20.

5:04 p.m. R9 9 Altari (4 g Savabeel – Bohemian Lily) – Wiremu Pinn; he mounted a strong finish to win when resuming in the Rating 65 1500 metres on 6 December at Pukekohe, also with Pinn aboard, and was then held together while finishing well for a close-up fourth in a trial there on 20 January. He also contests the Rating 75 1500 metres, and while he squares off against a strong field , he has drawn poorly (11) so will need plenty of luck in the running.  Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.70.   

Trentham:  

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

1:15 p.m. R2 2 Queen’s Evidence (3 f King’s Legacy – Enjay) – Masa Hashizume; she quickened to lead and got the job done comfortably when winning the 3YO 1200 metres on 10 January at Wanganui. Contesting the $65,000 3YO 1200 metres, she is looking for back to back wins - she has been twice stakes’ placed over 1200 metres, is a very genuine filly, and has top three claims from the ace draw which she will need to use to her advantage. Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.55.

3:33 p.m. R6 1 Origin Of Love (3 f Snitzel – Re Edit) – Bruno Queiroz; the first of two stable runners in the filly feature, she ran top race for second after leading in the Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes over 2000m on 1 January at Ellerslie - and she has since finished strongly for a close third in a Group & Listed trial on 23 January at Matamata. Contesting the $175,000 Group 2 Jenian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m), she finished an eye-catching second in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) here on 20 December. She is already a Group Three winner, and finished in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas, so her credentials are strong as she hunts down further black type for her CV. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.60.

3:33 p.m. R6 9 Summer In London (3 f Savabeel – Summer School) – Daniel Stackhouse; the second of our runners in the Lowland Stakes, she finished strongly for second from a handy position in the Maiden 2000 metres on 23 January at Matamata, won by stable-mate Born To Be Royal (King’s Legacy), and steps up in the feature over 2100m. While she is not a favoured runner, she is developing into a lovely staying filly who deserves her chance at black type. Her dam won over 2460 metres in the UK, and she too has drawn well (5) in her goal to measure up to stakes’ company at just her second start with the former Te Akau stable apprentice aboard. Fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50.

5:17 p.m. R9 11 I’m A Dirty Rascal (8 g Galileo – Remember When, by Danehill Dancer) – Bruno Queiroz; he ran on well for sixth after getting back to last in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) on 15 November at Riccarton, and found the line belatedly for sixth in the Open Handicap 2200 metres on 26 December at Wingatui. Contesting the $400,000 Group 3 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m), he possesses true staying qualities, carries the minimum weight (53kg), and is capable of proving competitive at good odds in an even field. Fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.00. 

Caulfield:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast. 

2:20 p.m. (NZ) - 12:20 p.m. (Vic) R1 6 Jenni’s Meadow (4 m Brutal – Meadow) – Patrick Moloney; she came from three back on the outer with a strong finish for second in the A$150,000 Benchmark 100 2000 metres on 17 January at Flemington, ALSO with Moloney aboard, and contests the corresponding event. She has been a Group Two & Three runner-up over 2000 metres, including here in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m), and brings the right form to rate a top three chance from barrier three. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.40. 

5:45 p.m. (NZ) - 3:45 p.m. (Vic) R7 3 Damask Rose (4 m Savabeel – Sombreuil) – Craig Williams; she has been freshened since contesting the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) during Melbourne Cup Week at Flemington, and finished strongly for third in a jump out on 19 January at Cranbourne. Resuming in the $200,000 Group 3 Lamaro’s Hotel Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m), she won both the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi last season in New Zealand. She circled from last for a close fifth when resuming in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) here in August, and appears set to race well from barrier one before stepping in up distance. The services of top rider Craig Williams is a definite plus as the mare seeks to win the race won twice by former stablemate Probabeel. NZ TAB fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.10. 

Main picture - Damask Rose winning the inaugural NZB Kiwi