Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 14 horses entered on Saturday 2 May: Te Rapa and Riccarton, New Zealand and one horse entered at Bendigo, Victoria.

Te Rapa: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast. 

3:35 p.m. R6 6 El Viento (5 g El Roca – Mandeville) – Craig Grylls; he closed from last in the fastest last 600m (36.5) on Heavy9 for a very close second (head) when resuming in the Open Handicap 1400 metres here on 17 April, and contests the $40,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. A five-time winner to 1800 metres, while he does have a few tricks up his sleeve, he is very capable and is versatile on range of footing. He looks a genuine first four prospect today if the leading rider can negate the wide alley (12). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.40.

4:10 p.m. R7 1 Hakkinen (4 g Savabeel – Miss Scandinavia) – Sam McNab (a2); he circled from last, after drawing the outside gate (14), in the fastest last 600m (34.6) for second (beaten only a short head) in the $35,000 Rating 65 1600 metres on 11 April at Otaki, also with Sam aboard, and contests the corresponding event. A stylish Maiden winner over 1600 metres, he was fourth in both Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). He enjoys weight relief to 60kg, which is still a large impost, but he has the ability to deliver a top three result with things can go his way from (yes another) wide draw (16). Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.10.   

4:45 p.m. R8 17 Colonel Warden (4 g Russian Revolution – Moralto) – Michael McNab; he was unsuited on the Heavy8 going after racing outside the leader when resuming in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 28 March at Te Aroha. He has been patiently handled and given time (35 days) since, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Two of his three wins have come on poly-tracks, so he is looking for a rewarding winter racing period - the problem today is … the very wide draw (19). Fixed odds: $35.00 & $8.00. 

Riccarton: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 2.5 metres from 1100m – 600m, remainder true. No rain forecast. 

12:21 p.m. R3 9 Paper Moon (3 f Savabeel – Kansas) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she lengthened well after racing on pace for a close third in the Maiden 2YO & 3YO 1200 metres on 6 April at Wanganui, and contests the $20,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Overall, she brings the right form to this contest to rate a top three chance from barrier seven with our in-form apprentice aboard, and she’s coming very close to breaking Maiden ranks. Fixed odds: $2.90 & $1.50.

12:55 p.m. R4 1 Insatiable (6 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Opie Bosson; he’s such a great campaigner and very much loved as a senior statesman. Everyone was excited when he recorded a terrific two-length victory in the $40,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres here on 11 April, and he lines up in the corresponding event. Up four-kilos in weight to carry 60kg, he has won his last two starts on the course, and while he can mix his form, he also can show a very good turn of foot on his day, and Opie Knows him well. He will be very competitive again. Fixed odds: $2.25 & $1.20.

1:31 p.m. R5 1 Never Too Much (2 g Rubick – Rebel’s Choice) – Bruno Queiroz; the first of three juveniles contesting the 2YO feature, he ran the fastest last 600m (32.7) on the day when closing strongly for second to stable-mate Enchantment (below) in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) here on 11 April, and contests the $80,000 Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m).  He has placed in all three of his career starts, including two on this course. We will be looking for him to jump out well as he is still learning but out to 1200m should suit him. From barrier six he is a definite top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.50. 

1:31 p.m. R5 5 Enchantment (2 f Hello Youmzain – Belle Fascino) – Triston Moodley (a); she became Te Akau’s 10th Listed Welcome Stakes winner with a commanding performance here on 11 April, and also contests the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes. Second and first, this time in, both at Riccarton, she will again be tough to beat with a decent trip from barrier seven. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.60.

1:31 p.m. R5 6 Zafar (2 c Snitzel – Zasorceress) – Opie Bosson; he contested a four-way pace from barrier one, cornered well into the straight, grabbed the advantage at the 300m, and drew out with a strong gallop to win a trial on 24 March at Avondale. Debuting in the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes, he is by four-time Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), and his dam Zasorceress (Zabeel) won twice to 1800 metres in Australia. He has caught the eye at the trials, displays precocity and presents as a top three chance from barrier four with Opie in the saddle. Fixed odds: $2.30 & $1.20.

2:51 p.m. R7 3 Balance Of Power (5 g Almanzor – Respin) – Opie Bosson; he found the line from well back in the field when resuming in the Rating 75 1500 metres on 4 April at Ellerslie, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1800 metres. He has notched up four wins to 2000 metres, this is his first trip to the South Island but Opie knows him very well, and he is more than capable of finishing in the top three from his handy alley (4).  Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25. 

3:26 p.m. R8 2 Stonybreck (6 g Tavistock – Fair Isle) – Opie Bosson; he finished a close fourth after racing handily in the Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) here on 11 April, giving a great sight down the straight, also with Opie aboard, and contests the $80,000 Avon City Ford Easter Cup (Open Handicap, 1600m). The has won eight races to 1550 metres, has been an impressive course winner previously, and brings right form to rate a top three chance from a better gate (2). Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.80.

4:01 p.m. R9 9 Best Rose (3 f Maurice – Queen’s Legacy) – Opie Bosson; she did well for second after racing three-wide near the pace in the Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres on 2 April at Ashburton, and is one of two stablemates contesting the $35,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She has a good course record and with an improved run last time on her first up effort, she has drawn the ace, and can be right in the thick of things at the finish. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.60.

4:01 p.m. R9 12 Novelette (3 f Cool Aza Beel – Fiction) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she fought well off a wide trip for fifth in the Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres on 2 April at Ashburton, and also contests the Rating 65 1200 metres. She unleashed a powerful finish to win two starts ago over 1200 metres, and it was a brave effort last start too. She will appreciate the weight relief to 55kg, is racing solidly, and you can expect her to give a good account of herself, notwithstanding the worry of the wide draw (15).  Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

4:36 p.m. R10 2 Cool ‘N’ Fast (4 g Savabeel – Cool ‘N’ Sassy) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he made it back-to-back course victories in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 12 March at Ashburton, and raced well for second in the Rating 75 1400 metres here on 11 April. One of two stablemates contesting the $35,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, he enjoys weight relief to 58kg, and drops back in trip. He is going great guns, has found his confidence, racing well, and is a definite top three chance. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

4:36 p.m. R10 10 Hooray For Harry (4 g Harry Angel – Here We Come) – Opie Bosson; the second starter for the stable in this race, he kept closing from a rearward position for sixth in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 16 April at Ashburton, and also contests the Rating 75 1200 metres. A dual course/distance winner, including earlier in the season with Opie aboard, he is well drawn and could fly under the radar - only concern is he does probably prefer a little more give in the track, Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

Bendigo:

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

5:40 p.m. (NZ time) R8 16 Chateau Eze (3 f Frankel – Antibes) – Luke Cartwright (a); she was frustratingly denied room before finishing on well belatedly for sixth in the Three-Year-Old Fillies 1200 metres on 18 April at Mornington, and contests the A$200,000 Listed SEN Bendigo Guineas over 1400m. She has been a winner over 1200 metres, as well as stakes’ placed, and while she appears ready for the step up in distance, the draw is a real niggle (11).  NZ TAB fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50.  

Main picture - Insatiable winning at Riccarton