Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Saturday 7 February at Te Rapa and Wingatui in New Zealand, and two horses entered at Caulfield, Melbourne.?

Te Rapa:  

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 1 metre. No rain forecast. 

2:21 p.m. R4 1 Towering Vision (3 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision) – Opie Bosson; he wound up with a big finish to come from last to win the 3YO 1600 metres on 1 January at Ellerslie, also with Bosson aboard, and is one off two stablemates contesings the $275,000 Group 2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m). A juvenile stakes’ winner on the course, he is racing as though the step up in distance will suit him, and from barrier one we expect a very bold showing as he eyes a Group 1 NZ Derby tilt. Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.90.

2:21 p.m. R4 12 One True King (3 g King’s Legacy – Chicharita) – Wiremu Pinn; he positioned in second and bravely stuck to his task on Soft7 footing when resuming in the 3YO 1600 metres on 23 January at Matamata. Stepping up in the Group 2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas, he has fashioned a good record in four starts, including a resounding Maiden win over 1400 metres, and he is capable of measuring up from barrier six. Fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.00.

4:03 p.m. R7 6 Born To Be Royal (3 f King’s Legacy – Fatal Rendezvous) – Opie Bosson; she dropped back in class and kept producing to win the Maiden 2000 metres on 23 January at Matamata. Contesting the $275,000 Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m), she ran on strongly for third in the Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, and is ideally drawn (2) to put herself right in the thick of the action. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.00.

5:13 p.m. R9 2 When Stars Align (4 g Zoustar – Shenandoah) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he was beaten by only a nose in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 13 December, and kept up a strong gallop to win the Rating 75 1200 metres on 8 January at Tauranga. One of two in the tangerine lining up in the  $65,000 Dr John Southworth Memorial (a dear friend of ours) Rating 75 1200 metres, he has weight relief to 57.5kg and is campaigning in terrific form. He does however meet a stronger field but he is talented, he just has to overcome the barrier disadvantage (19). Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.60.

5:13 p.m. R9 7 Egyptian Queen (5 m Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Opie Bosson; she closed solidly from last to finish fourth when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 10 January at Wanganui, and contests the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. It has been so good to see her return after a long lay off due to an eye issues which was almost career ending - so she’s got plenty of course and fight. She’s a previous course/distance winner, and while she meets a strong field, she brings the ability to prove competitive - but she too has copped a nasty alley (14). Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.60.

Wingatui:  

Weather: showery, track: Soft6, rail: out 3 metres 1400m – 400m, remainder true. 5mls rain forecast Friday and no rain Saturday. 

3:48 p.m. R8 4 Stonybreck (6 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Courtney Barnes; he has been freshened since racing well for sixth in the Group 3 TAB Mile (1600m) during Cup Week in November at Riccarton, and came from last for a close fourth in a trial on 15 January at Ashburton. Resuming in the $80,000 Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1400m), he performs well fresh but is yet another of our Saturday team that requires luck from a wide draw (13) in this capacity field. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.40. 

Caulfield:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 8 metres. No rain forecast. 

3.55 p.m. (NZ) - 1:55 p.m. (Vic) R4 4 I Am Aria (2 f I Am Invincible – Talaria) – Craig Williams; she was held together while sustaining a strong gallop for a close up second in a jump out on 12 January at Cranbourne, and then debuted with terrific effort for second after sharing the pace in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1000m) here on 24 January. Contesting the A$350,000 Group 2 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Prelude over 1100m for two-year-old fillies, is really was a top effort first-up, she has  great gate speed, but barrier 11 makes it a tricky assignment. NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.70.

6:15 p.m. (NZ) - 4:15 p.m. (Vic) R8 9 Chateau Eze (3 f Frankel – Antibes) – Jordan Childs; she quickened from fourth to win a jump out on 26 January at Cranbourne, and resumes in the A$200,000 Group 3 Evergreen Turf Peter Le Grand Stakes over 1100m for three-year-old fillies. She recorded a smart debut victory over 1200 metres, and stepped up with a very good second in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m) here. There is plenty of winning form in this race, but she is aided by a handy draw (3). NZ TAB fixed odds: $17.00 & $4.20.  

Main picture - Towering Vision's juvenile stakes' win at Te Rapa