Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 11 horses entered on Saturday 25 April: Te Rapa and Riccarton, New Zealand and two horses entered at Morphettville, South Australia.

Te Rapa: 

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

2:07 p.m. R3 3 System Of Play (2 c Ole Kirk – Statuesquely) – Michael McNab; he was steadied back from a wider draw, tracked up three-wide approaching the 600m, swept to lead at the 300m and sustained a good effort to win well at the trials on 7 April at Ellerslie. Debuting in the $35,000 2YO 1200 metres, he breezed up impressively before being bought by David Ellis at the Ready To Run Sale last year. He has a terrific pedigree, his young sire is firing in Australia and he looks well placed to be right in the finish first-up if the recently returned champion rider secures a decent trip from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.85. 

2:40 p.m. R4 6 Talisker (5 g Embellish – Glenkinchie) – Craig Grylls; he travelled nicely behind the leaders and ran home pleasingly over a sprint trip in a trial on 16 April at Tauranga where the (Heavy10) footing was too testing for him. Resuming in the $40,000 Open Handicap 1400 metres, he has a record of four wins and was Group One placed to 1600 metres, and he has also placed in all three starts on this course. He definitely has the ability to perform well when fresh and is capable of a bold effort first-up, it’s just the sticky gate (8) being something of a concern. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.15. 

3:10 p.m. R5 3 King’s English (3 c Snitzel – English) – Jonathan Riddell; he was freshened following the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions’ night (24 Jan.) and went well in an exhibition gallop last Saturday, both at Ellerslie. Resuming in the $100,000 Group 3 Windsor Park Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), he is an impressive dual winner who has also twice finished third in five career starts. One of only three males in this event, he has the ability to deliver a top four finish but again he’s another who has drawn awkwardly (9) - the first of a stable duo in the race.  Fixed odds: $19.00 & $5.00. 

3:10 p.m. R5 9 Drops Of God (3 f Hello Youmzain – Distinctive Lass) – Craig Grylls; the second stable runner in the Group 3 Windsor Park Stud Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes, she did well from a wide draw (11) for third in the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions’ night (24 Jan.), won by subsequent Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) winning stable-mate Belle Cheval (Savabeel). She looked good in an exhibition gallop last Saturday at Ellerslie. She has been impressive winning two of her three starts thus far, and has the ability to rate a top three chance fresh up with luck from her wide draw (18). Fixed odds: $4.60 & $2.00. 

3:10 p.m. R5 17 Avantaggia (3 f Wootton Bassett – Avantage) – unfixed; she kept producing for a strong win in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 11 April at Otaki, and steps up in the Windsor Park Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes. Beautifully bred out of Te Akau bought and trained nine-time Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), she’s recorded two smart wins from five starts, and has the talent to prove competitive - however she looks unlikely to make the field (ballot three). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30. 

3:41 p.m. R6 1 Legally Binding (4 g Exceedance – Legal Eagle) – Hyeontaek Oh (a4); he lifted in a driving three-way finish to win the Rating 75 1200 metres on 18 March at Waverley, and remains in the same grade for the $35,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. He’s putting together a handy record with four wins and two seconds from 10 starts, including two wins in this grade and over this distance. The apprentice engagement brings weight relief to 57.5kg and he is one of the few in the team today to score a good draw (3), unlike his stablemate next who also contests the event. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30. 

3:41 p.m. R6 10 Sense of Timing (5 m Time Test – Pin Up Lae) – Opie Bosson; she settled back on the inner and ran home strongly near the markers for fourth in a trial on 16 April at Tauranga. Resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres, she was an impressive course winner over 1500 metres last May, has and has been stakes’ placed three times. She has shown she has the ability to race well fresh, but she will be suited to stepping up further and requires a heap of luck from her wide draw (18). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30. 

4:16 p.m. R7 1 Qali Al Farrasha (5 m Almanzor – Nucleonic) – Opie Bosson; she found the line without threatening in the Group 1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) on 28 March at Trentham, and contests the $150,000 Group 2 Travis Stakes (2000m). While she may seem to have been a touch below her best of late, she’s a terrific mare with excellent credentials, being quadruple Group One placed, and if things can go her way from barrier nine, this is a good opportunity for here to add further black type to her already very good CV. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.50. 

Riccarton: 

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

3:28 p.m. R5 3 Perlino (3 f Super Seth – Palomino) – Bruno Queiroz; she registered the 100th win this season for the stable in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 21 March and finished off strongly for third in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) on 11 April, both here at Riccarton. One of two stablemates contesting the $80,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m), she displays tough qualities, and is perfectly drawn (2) to be a top three contender if she appreciates the extra distance - she gives every indication should not be a problem. Fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.50.

3:28 p.m. R5 9 Aishiteru (3 f Satono Aladdin – Cuddles For Layla) – Triston Moodley (a); she was unable to quicken in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes here on 11 April, and likewise contests the New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes. She recorded a strong all-the-way win in the Maiden 2000 metres here on 18 February, returns to the same distance but hasn’t been aided in her quest by a wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50. 

4:03 p.m. R6 5 What You Wish For (5 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Bruno Queiroz; he ran home solidly for fourth in the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) on 28 March at Trentham, was given time (28 days) to get over the travel, and contests the $120,000 Group 3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup over 2000 metres.  With a win and two second placings from five starts in this campaign, he has matured into a lovely staying type with a very good record over 2000 metres, and he has the ability to race well if the in-form rider can navigate the wide draw (13). Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.80. 

Morphettville:

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

3:46 p.m. (NZ) - 1:16 p.m. (SA) R2 7 Wonderful Sky (2 f Ole Kirk – Medic) – Craig Williams; she followed a close debut second with a strong win in the Maiden 2YO Fillies 1100 metres on 9 April at Pakenham, and steps up in the $150,000 Group 3 Sportsbet Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). While she faces a much tougher test and requires a decent trip from barrier seven, she has shown to have real talent and has had a very good start to career and deserves her first chance at black type. NZ TAB fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.55.

7:18 p.m. (NZ) - 4:48 p.m. (SA) R8 12 Geegees Mistruth (4 m Wordsmith – Miss Mana) – Jordan Childs; she finished strongly for second following an economical trip in the Open Handicap 1100 metres on 3 April at Ballarat, and contests the A$1 million Group 1 Sportsbet Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m). Two starts ago she went an eye-catcher in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on 7 March at Flemington. A six-time winner to 1400 metres, she’s drawn an ideal gate (5) to race well again and could well surprise. NZ TAB fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50. 

Main picture - Qali Al Farrasha