Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Saturday 14 February at Matamata, New Zealand and one respectively at Ballarat and Flemington, Victoria.

Matamata:  

Weather: raining, track: Heavy9, rail: true. 14mls rain last 24 hours. 

12:20 p.m. R1 11 Bolli Belle (3 f Shamus Award – Fille Champagne) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she drew out to win by nearly four lengths on debut in the Maiden 1340 metres on 19 January at Wanganui, also with Hassman aboard, and contests the $40,000 Special Conditions Maiden 1400 metres. Importantly with the skies opening up, she placed in a trial on heavy ground, and appeared to easily handle the Soft6 going on debut,. The apprentice engagement brings her weight down to 54kg, and she has definite first four claims from barrier two in a good field. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.

1:27 p.m. R3 1 Kinnaird (2 c Home Affairs – Orinda) – Opie Bosson; he followed his debut win with a strong victory in the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie, but was unable to quicken in the Karaka Millions 2YO on 24 January at Ellerslie. We know he is better tham that and, contesting the $150,000 Group 3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m), the blinkers are off, and he has drawn perfectly (4) to bounce back with bold performance - the only question will be any further deterioration of the track. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.40. 

1:27 p.m. R3 3 Out Of The Blue (2 g Tivaci – Cornflower Blue) – Craig Grylls; he ran the fastest last 600m (35.4) after getting back to last from the outside draw (14) in the Karaka Millions 2YO over 1200m on 24 January at Ellerslie, and he too contests the Group 3 Fairview Matamata Slipper. He won his first two starts in impressive fashion, before running an unlucky third in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m). His stakes’ winning dam Cornflower Blue (Savabeel) impressed winning her Maiden here on a Heavy8 track, so if it’s ‘like mother, like son’ he rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $2.30. 

Te Akau has won the Group 3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) 11 times, most recently last year with Return To Conquer (Snitzel), who has just been announced to stand at Waikato Stud.

2:43 p.m. R5 1 Lara Antipova (2 f Russian Revolution – Artistic Lass) – Opie Bosson; she bolted in by eight lengths on debut in the Maiden 2YO 1150 metres on 7 December at Te Aroha, and won the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) by four and a half lengths on 20 December at Trentham. She had an exhibition gallop on 5 February at Tauranga, is a high class filly and she warrants favouritism in the $225,000 Group 2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). Fixed odds: $1.35 & $1.05.

Te Akau has won the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) 10 times, most recently last year with Champion Two-Year-Old La Dorada (Super Seth). 

3:18 p.m. R6 6 My Lips Are Sealed (5 m Ace High – Tellmeaboutit) – Rory Hutchings; she was freshened following the Open Handicap 1600 metres on 4 November at Ellerslie, was fine through the line over a sprint trip in a Group & Listed trial here on 23 January, and also contests the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes. She won the Group 3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) last season at Trentham in dominant fashion, has been both a course/distance winner on heavy going, and with her ability to race well fresh, she could fly under the radar. Fixed odds: $26.00 & $6.00.

5:02 p.m. R9 1 Savoir Faire (6 g Savabeel – Etiquette) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he hit the line well when resuming in the Rating 75 1500 metres on 31 January at Ellerslie, his first start since returning from a successful Australian preparation. Hayley also ride him in that race and stays aboard for the $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. She provides the 6YO with weight relief to 58kg, he’s a triple winner over 2000 metres from the Te Akau stable in Melbourne, and is a course winner. Another plus is the fact he has a solid record over the mile, has handled yielding ground in the past, and is ideally drawn (4) to race well - one of three in the race for the team.  NZ TAB Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.60.

5:02 p.m. R9 4 Zantabulous (6 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Opie Bosson; she handled Heavy10 conditions like a toff when winning the Thames-Coromandel East Waikato Gold Cup (Rating 75, 1600m) on 3 January at Te Aroha, has been given time (42 days) to get over that, and also contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. She has recorded four wins on soft and heavy ground, is a dual course winner, and you could easily see her right in the thick of the finish. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.70.

5:02 p.m. R9 7 Altari (4 g Savabeel – Bohemian Lily) – Rory Hutchings; the third of the stable reps. in the last race of the day, he felt the pinch after working wide in the Rating 75 1500 metres on 31 January at Ellerslie, and likewise contests the Rating 75 1600 metres. He mounted a strong finish to win when resuming in the Rating 65 1500 metres on 6 December at Pukekohe, was a Maiden winner here on debut, and while he possesses the ability to race well, much depends on how he handles the track conditions. Fixed odds: $20.00 & $4.60.    

Ballarat:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

3:26 p.m. (NZ) - 1:26 p.m. (Vic) R1 7 Tolaga Bay (2 f Alabama Express – Camila Lucinda) – Liam Riordan; she began well to lead and quickened clear to win a jump out on 2 February at Cranbourne. Debuting in the A$32,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres, she is by Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) winner and proven Group One producing sprint sire Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice), out of a four-time sprint winner Camila Lucinda (Lope de Vega). She’s certainly looked good winning her last two trials, and the draw (3) is a bonus in her quest to race well first-up. 

Flemington: 

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

4:55 p.m. (NZ) - 2:55 p.m. (Vic) R6 7 Jenni’s Meadow (4 m Brutal – Meadow) – Patrick Moloney; she continued her solid form with a strong run for second in the Benchmark 100 2000 metres on 31 January at Caulfield, also with Moloney aboard. Contesting the $150,000 Be Captivated Trophy (Open Handicap, 2500m), she finished strongly for second in the Benchmark 100 2000 metres here two starts ago, is a Group Two & Three runner-up over 2000 metres, and brings the right form to rate a top three chance from barrier four. NZ TAB fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.45. 

Main picture - What You Wish For winning the Taupo Cup