Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 18 horses entered on Saturday 28 February: Matamata and Wingatui in New Zealand and one horse racing at Flemington, Melbourne.

Matamata: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 4.5 metres. No rain forecast. 

12:10 p.m. R1 14 Arrazola (3 f Almanzor – Shanzam) – Craig Grylls; she improved to midfield inner and found the line strongly in a trial on 10 February at Ellerslie. Debuting in the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres, she is a sister to Group Three winner and multiple Group placed Mary Shan, the Group Three winning grand-dam Shanzero (Danzero) impressed over 1600 metres, and rates a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.

1:16 p.m. R3 1 Cease And Desist (3 g Zoustar – No Evidence Needed) – Rory Hutchings; he won the Maiden 1600 metres here on 23 January, but was unable to quicken from a handy position in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 11 February at Te Aroha. Contesting the $40,000 3YO 1600 metres, handily drawn (4), he is looking to bounce back. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.10. 

1:49 p.m. R4 2 Family Ties (6 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she was blocked for a run in the straight when resuming in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 5 February at Tauranga, with Hassman aboard, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. With weight relief to 56.5kg, she is a five-time winner to 2000m, is capable of improvement but requires luck from her wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $15.00 & $4.00. 

2:21 p.m. R5 9 One True King (3 g King’s Legacy – Chicharita) – Craig Grylls; he felt the pinch after working keenly near the pace in the Group 2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) on 7 February at Te Rapa, and drops in class for the $40,000 Rating 65 2000 metres. He stuck on bravely when resuming here the start prior in the 3YO 1600 metres on 23 January, and finds a good opportunity to improve with luck from wide gate (14). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.40.

3.00 p.m. R6 8 Savoir Faire (6 g Savabeel – Etiquette) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he was unable to cope with the Heavy9 footing in the Rating 75 1600 metres here on 14 February, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 2000 metres. He hit then line well when resuming in the Rating 75 1500 metres on 31 January at Ellerslie, and has notched up four wins over 2000 metres including in Melbourne,. He enjoys weight relief to 52kg, and is capable of bold performance if things go hits way from the outside gate (10). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.90. 

3:35 p.m. R7 2 Egyptian Queen (5 m Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she came out of midfield with a timely finish to win the Rating 75 1200 metres on 7 February at Te Rapa, and remains in the same grade for the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Twice course/distance placed from two starts, she has the benefit of weight relief to 58.5kg, brings winning form, and has first four claims if she can secure a decent trip from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.20.

3:35 p.m. R7 3 Legally Binding (4 g Exceedance – Legal Eagle) – Michael McNab; he remained back and wide from his outside gate in a trial on 17 February at Avondale, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. With three wins and two seconds from eight starts, he has won in this grade and over the distance, and looks a genuine top four chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

3:35 p.m. R7 4 Brazen Affair (4 m Brazen Beau – Southern Romance) – Rory Hutchings; she was not under any pressure working nicely into second over the concluding stages in a trial on 17 February at Avondale, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. She ended her previous campaign in terrific form on the poly-track at Cambridge, with three wins and three seconds from six starts, has been a winner on the turf, and is more than capable of a bold showing with (you guessed it) a good dose of luck from another wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $17.00 & $4.60.

4:10 p.m. R8 10 Zantabulous (6 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she handled the Heavy10 conditions when winning the East Waikato Gold Cup (Rating 75, 1600m) on 3 January at Te Aroha, with Hassman aboard, and fought hard on Heavy9 for second in the Rating 75 1600 metres here on 14 February. Contesting the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres, she will appreciate the weight relief to 52kg, is a dual course winner, and looks a top four chance from barrier four. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.85.

Wingatui: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

11:50 a.m. R1 1 Purple Prose (4 g Embellish – Lady Masako) – Opie Bosson; he raced well when running home solidly for fourth in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 4 February at Riccarton, and contests the $25,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. She brings right form to present as a top three chance if things can go her way from the wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $2.30 & $1.30.

12:25 p.m. R2 2 Never Too Much (2 g Rubick – Rebel’s Choice) – Opie Bosson; he began well from barrier one to co-lead on the inner, quickened at the 200m and sustained a strong gallop for a close second in a trial on 10 February at Ellerslie, with Bosson aboard. Debuting in the $40,000 2YO 1100 metres, he is by the good sire of two-year-olds Rubick (Encosta de Lago), out of Rebel’s Choice (Pierro), a dual winner to 1400 metres in Australia, has drawn barrier two, and appears ideally placed to rate a top three chance first-up - one of two in the race for the stable. Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.10.

12:25 p.m. R2 5 Elysienne (2 f Sword Of State – Sternland) – Courtney Barnes; she began smartly and raced well for fourth when debuting in the 2YO 800 metres 4 February at Riccarton, and also contests the 2YO 1100 metres. She trialled well prior to racing at Ellerslie, the blinkers are on, and she can deliver a top four finish from barrier one. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.35.

2:52 p.m. R6 4 Insatiable (6 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Opie Bosson; he kept up a strong gallop to win the Open Handicap 1100 metres on 4 February at Riccarton, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres. He capped his good form with that well deserved win, and while he meets a strong field, he is a top four chance if appreciative of course at his first attempt - the first of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.90.

2:52 p.m. R6 9 Trobriand (5 g Kermadec – Arboreal) – Bruno Queiroz; he yielded ground inside 200m after racing near pace in the Listed Timaru Stakes (1200m) on 24 January at Riccarton, has been given time (35 days), and likewise contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres. A proven Group & stakes’ performer, claimed late (second) in the Listed Stewards Stakes (1200m) in November, appreciates soft ground, and has the ability to be competitive despite his awkward alley (13). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00. 

3:27 p.m. R7 12 Perlino (3 f Super Seth – Palomino) – Bruno Queiroz; she strode clear to win the Maiden 1600 metres by seven and a half lengths on 4 February at Riccarton, and steps up in class for the $180,000 Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Dunedin Guineas (1600m). While she has raced well in all three of her starts to date, she meets a strong field but appears capable of delivering a positive result if she can overcome her wide barrier (12). Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.25.

4:02 p.m. R8 10 Elegant Lady (6 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Courtney Barnes; she raced solidly for fourth in the Rating 75 2000 metres on 18 February at Riccarton, won by stable-mate Court Of Appeal (below), and contests the $180,000 Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m). Withour wins to 2200 metres, she has been twice stakes’ placed to 2400m, including the corresponding race in 2024. Such a truly honest mare, she carries minimum weight (53kg), and  is capable of proving competitive with luck from wide draw (12) - it’s a weekend for wide gates!! Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.40. 

4:02 p.m. R8 11 Court Of Appeal (5 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel) – Bruno Queiroz; the second runner for the team in this feautre, she recorded a strong winning performance in the Rating 75 2000 metres on 18 February at Riccarton, also with Queiroz aboard, and she too contests the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup. She’s had five career wins to 2200 metres, carries the minimum weight (53kg), and she can certainly make her presence felt in this line up. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.30. 

4:37 p.m. R9 5 Stonybreck (6 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Opie Bosson; he made ground belatedly from last when resuming in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1400m) here on 7 February, and contests the $230,000 Group 3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m). The winner of eight races, he may look to position handily from barrier seven, and with the champion rider aboard, he will give a good account of himself. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.40. 

Flemington:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 2 metres. 10mls rain forecast Friday and 3mls Saturday.  

2:15 p.m. (NZ time) R1 1 Harry Met Sally (2 g Yes Yes Yes – Agueda) – Jamie Melham; he travelled three back on the inner and closed strongly once clear for third when resuming in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres on 12 February at Pakenham. Contesting the A$175,000 Listed 2YO 1000 metres, he boasts a good sprinting pedigree, raced well fresh-up and has drawn the ace. NZ TAB fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.00. 

Main picture - Perlino winning