Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 14 horses entered on Saturday 21 March: Trentham and Riccarton, New Zealand, and one horse entered at Caulfield, Melbourne.

Trentham: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 7.5 metres 450m – winning post, remainder out 6 metres. No rain forecast.

1:36 p.m. R3 1 What You Wish For (5 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Craig Grylls; he finished strongly for second in Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) on 31 January at Ellerslie, had an exhibition gallop on 12 March at Ashburton, and contests the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. He does have to carry the top weight (60kg), but he’s racing well, has the country’s leading rider engaged, and rates a top three chance in a small field. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.35.

3:18 p.m. R6 6 Origin Of Love (3 f Snitzel – Re Edit) – Craig Grylls; she fought well for fourth in the Group 2 Lowland Stakes over 2100 metres here on 31 January, and put in a similar, gutsy effort when finishing a close third in Windsor Park Trophy (3YO, 1500m) on 7 March at Ellerslie. In search of further black type success, she takes on the $250,000 Group 2 Taylor Property Plus Wellington Guineas (1600m), was both a course/distance runner-up in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes over that distance and has more feature success well within her grasp. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.50.

Riccarton: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 8 metres to 1000m, then 10m to winning post. No rain forecast.

12:47 p.m. R2 2 Cool Aza Rene (3 f Cool Aza Beel – Irene) – Opie Bosson; she finished fourth after working forward into second in 3YO 1200 metres on 20 February at Ashburton, and contests the $40,000 3YO 1400 metres. She was a talented juvenile who has trained on well as a 3YO, the winner now of five of 11 starts to 1400 metres, including the Group 3 Barneswood Stakes (1400m). She is a tenacious, competitive filly who likes the fight, and is ideally drawn (4) to serve it up in this field. Fixed odds: $2.35 & $1.25.

1:19 p.m. R3 7 Vivacious (5 m Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she resumed with a terrific winning performance in Rating 75 1200 metres here on 4 March, and steps up in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres. She is another who is fashioning an excellent record, with five wins to 1400 metres, and has the plus of weight relief to just 52kg. With our in-form stable apprentice aboard, she will likely look to capitalise on her big finishing style and should be right in the thick of things at the business end. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.40. She is also accepted in Race 6.

1:53 p.m. R4 3 Never Too Much (2 g Rubick – Rebel’s Choice) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he sustained a good gallop for third after racing handily in 2YO 1100 metres on debut on 28 February at Wingatui, and is one of two stablemates contesting the $40,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO 1000 metres. He finished off nicely for a close second in a trial on 10 February at Ellerslie, prior to racing, also enjoys weight relief to 54kg, and is a top three prospect. Fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.25.

1:53 p.m. R4 7 Enchantment (2 f Hello Youmzain – Belle Fascino) – Courtney Barnes; she began smartly to position third slot, challenged rounding the home turn and sustained a strong run for second in a trial on 3 March at Taupo, also with Courtney aboard. Resuming in the $40,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO 1000 metres, she has been freshened following two third placings, and shapes to race well in small field. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.05.

2:28 p.m. R5 6 Belle Du Monde (3 f Zoustar – Lady Cartier) – Opie Bosson; she came out of the pack with a solid finish for second in a Rating 65 1200 metres here on 18 February, has been patiently handled and given time (31 days), and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. A course winner, she was also fourth in the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes over 1400m last season, has undoubted ability and brings the right form to pose a top three chance - one of two for the team in the event. Fixed odds: $2.10 & $1.25.

2:28 p.m. R5 7 Marokopa Falls (3 f Hellbent – Beside You) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she found the line well for third after situating handily in 3YO 1200 metres on 20 February at Ashburton, and also contests the Rating 65 1200 metres. Dual stakes placed, she has the plus of weight relief to 55.5kg, and is more than capable of finishing in the top three with any luck from her wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.70. 

3:05 p.m. R6 15 Hooray For Harry (4 g Harry Angel – Here We Come) – Opie Bosson; he finished fifth after trailing when resuming in Rating 75 1200 metres here on 4 March, won by stable-mate Vivacious, and os one of two runners for the stable in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. A dual course/distance winner, including second-up earlier this season also with Opie aboard, from his handy gate (1) look for him to be prominent. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.90. 

3:05 p.m. R6 17 Vivacious (5 m Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she resumed with terrific winning performance in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 4 March, and likewise contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. With five wins to 1400 metres already under her belt, add in the weight relief to 57kg and her big finishing style - if she can get past the nasty gate (14) she’ll be right in this. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25. She is also accepted in Race 3.

3:38 p.m. R7 1 Cognito (6 g So You Think – Lady Primrose) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he resumed with a solid effort despite finishing back in an Open Handicap 1600 metres here on 4 February. It can take him time to work into his campaigns but he had an exhibition gallop on 12 March at Ashburton, and is one of three stable runners contesting the feature event, the $50,000 Seaton Family Memorial Hororata Gold Cup (Open Handicap, 1800m). He ended his previous campaign with a strong second in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) and possesses a good course record including a win over 1800 metres. He will take benefit with the weight relief to 58.5kg, and is definitely capable of a bold performance in this solid field. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

3:38 p.m. R7 5 Stonybreck (6 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Opie Bosson; the second of our starters in the feature, he found the line in good fashion after travelling midfield in Group 3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) on 28 February at Wingatui, also with Opie aboard - and he too contests the Hororata Gold Cup. He has a good winning strike rate, with eight career wins to 1550m under his belt, and has been an impressive course winner previously. He can prove competitive here, the only question being whether he will appreciate the step up in distance but he deserves this opportunity. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.75.

3:38 p.m. R7 10 Elegant Lady (6 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Courtney Barnes; the final of the Te Akau trio in the Hororata Gold Cup, she remained back on the inner in Listed Dunedin Gold Cup over 2400m on 28 February at Wingatui, also with Courtney in the saddle.  While she could appear to be in the twilight of her career, she has recorded four wins to 2200 metres, and has been twice stakes' placed to 2400m. She’s a truly genuine mare who always tries hard and was runner-up in the corresponding race last year - if things go her way from barrier 10, she could well add to her record. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.50.

4:49 p.m. R9 11 High Roller (4 g Ace High – Miss Thorn) – Opie Bosson; he was unable to sustain his run after a tough trip, racing outside leader in Rating 65 2200 metres on 20 February at Ashburton. The first of a stable duo in this event, he drops back in distance for the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. A winner over 1600 metres in December on the poly-track at Riccarton, he was also second here two starts ago, and is capable of a good effort from barrier seven. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.25.

4:49 p.m. R9 14 Perlino (3 f Super Seth – Palomino) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she won her Maiden by seven and a half lengths over 1600 metres here on 4 February, and sustained a good effort after being forced to race three-wide on the pace in Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m) on 28 February at Wingatui. Back in class for the $40,000 Rating 65 1600 metres, she will appreciate the weight relief to 54.5kg, and she brings right form to be in contention for a top three placing, the main worry however is her carpark barrier (20)! Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.85. 

Caulfield:

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

5:30 (NZ time) R7 2 Damask Rose (4 m Savabeel – Sombreuil) – Michael Dee; she got back last from her outside gate (11) before finishing strongly down outside for a very close second in Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m) on 7 March at Flemington, and contests the A$300,000 Group 2 Packaging Needs Sunline Stakes (1600m). She has really shown how competitive she is with good Melbourne form, having resumed with a terrific second in Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) and a third in Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m), both here at Caulfield. She won the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (Restricted Listed, 1600m) and inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m) last season in New Zealand, and with the former Te Akau apprentice in the saddle (Craig Williams rides in Sydney) she is certainly up to earning more black type success. NZ TAB fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.10.  

Main picture - Perlino winning at Riccarton