Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has nine horses entered on Saturday 4 April: Ellerslie and Riverton, New Zealand and two horses entered at Caulfield, Melbourne.    ?

Ellerslie: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 8.5 metres. No rain forecast.

11:48 p.m. R1 2 Miss Perna (2 f Satono Aladdin – If Perhaps) – Craig Grylls; she came from three back on the inner with a strong finish for fifth in the Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1050 metres on 22 March at Matamata, and contests the $45,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses). Third and second, respectively, in her two prior starts, she is from an outstanding family of Group One winners, and deserves to be a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.50.

12:21 p.m. R2 12 Presence Of Mind (3 f Fastnet Rock – Supreme Mind) – Craig Grylls; she finished strongly out of midfield for a close third when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1050 metres on 11 March at Matamata, and contests the $30,000 Maiden 1200 metres. She is definitely capable of a top three finish if she secures some luck for her wide gate (11) but she has the right pilot (literally) to get the job done.  Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.70. 

2:05 p.m. R5 12 Zambrosia (3 f Zoustar – Positive Problems) – Michael McNab; she sustained a big run for third after a tough run, racing three-wide albeit with cover, in the Maiden 1600 metres on 13 March at Pukekohe, and contests the $30,000 Maiden 2YO & Up 1600 metres. She is trending the right direction in her four starts to date and is ideally drawn (4) to carry first four credentials. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.50.

4:33 p.m. R9 3 War Of Succession (5 g Tavistock – Ziffel) – Sam McNab (a2); three runners in the last, the first of them, he got back last over a sprint distance and closed strongly late to photo-finish for fourth in a trial on 24 March at Avondale. Resuming in the $55,000 Rating 75 1500 metres, he has delivered four wins to 2100 metres, including three at Ellerslie. The apprentice aboard brings weight relief to 58kg, and he’s more than capable of a bold run fresh-up. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.80.

4:33 p.m. R9 7 Balance Of Power (5 g Almanzor – Respin) – Corentin Berge; he finished off well, being nicely held in behind the leaders for fourth when trialling on 17 March at Taupo, and also resumes in the Rating 75 1500 metres. With four wins to 2000 metres and the proven ability to race well fresh, he will be competitive if he can overcome the terrible barrier (19). Fixed odds: $34.00 & $8.00.

4:33 p.m. R9 8 Top Shelf (4 m Savabeel – Saoirse) – Opie Bosson; she found plenty when win the Rating 75 1600 metres here on Champions Day (7 March), and the third of the stable trio lining up in Rating 75 1500 metres. She remains in same grade which is a plus for her chances, is stakes’ placed, brings course winning form, and rates a top three chance if things go her way from (she’s copped a rotten gate too) from the car park  (18). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.40. ?

Riverton: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. 4mls rain forecast overnight Friday and no rain Saturday.

3:09 p.m. R7 3 Cool Aza Rene (3 f Cool Aza Beel – Irene) – Triston Moodley (a); she raced in close pursuit of the winning leader when finishing second in the 3YO 1400 metres on 21 March at Riccarton, and is the first of three stablemates contesting the $80,000 Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1200m). She has won five of 12 starts to 1400 metres, including the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m), the blinkers go on and she’s capable of bold showing is she can negate her wide gate (16). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

3:09 p.m. R7 6 Marokopa Falls (3 f Hellbent – Beside You) – Floor Moerman (a); the second runner for the team in the 3YO feature, she raced near the pace when finishing a close third in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 21 March at Riccarton. Dual stakes’ placed, she is handily drawn (4), and she too is more than capable of proving competitive. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

3:09 p.m. R7 10 Arctic Jewel (3 f Frosted – Miss Gem) – Hayley Hassman (a); she closed strongly out of the pack to snatch second in the Rating 65 1000 metres on 4 March at Riccarton, and put in a similar performance on the inside of runners for third in a trial there on 23 March. The third of our fillies lining up in the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1200m), she was a comprehensive winner over 1000 metres in February at Tauherenikau, and while a top three placing is well within her grasp, like many for our stable across the day, she requires luck from a nasty draw (17). Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

Caulfield:

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

5:00 p.m. (NZ) - 3:00 p.m. (Vic) R6 5 Chateau Eze (3 f Frankel – Antibes) – Daniel Stackhouse; she finished sixth after leading in the Group 2 Amanasco Stakes (1400m) here on 21 February, and won a jump out with a strong performance after racing handily on 23 March at Cranbourne. Contesting the $150,000 Three-Year-Old Fillies 1200 metres, she is back in class, and is already a winner over this distance. Adding to her hopes here, she has been stakes’ placed on course, and she is capable of proving competitive for the former Te Akau apprentice, but she will need a few things to go right from her awkward gate (10).  NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.45.

6:15 p.m. (NZ) - 4:15 p.m. (Vic) R8 13 Jenni’s Meadow (4 m Brutal – Meadow) – Lachlan Neindorf; she continued her good form with a strong finish for third in Australian Cup Prelude (2000m) on 7 March at Flemington, and contests the $200,000 Group 3 Tobin Brothers Easter Cup (2000m). A Group Two & Three runner-up over 2000 metres, she brings solid all-round credentials, and has drawn the ace. NZ TAB fixed odds: $13.00 & $4.20.   

Main picture - Cool Aza Rene winning