Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Saturday 9 May at Rotorua, New Zealand and four horses entered on at Ararat (Victoria) and Caulfield (Melbourne).

Rotorua: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft7, rail: true. 5mls rain forecast Friday and 5mls rain Saturday morning.

11:55 a.m. R1 5 Emma Twigg (3 f El Roca – Megara) – Samantha Collett; she lifted strongly for a close second after racing three-wide near the pace in the $35,000 3YO 1400 metres on 24 April at Otaki, and contests the corresponding event. She recorded a super debut victory on Soft5 footing, is racing well, and has to be a top four contender in what has come up a good field. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.60.

3:22 p.m. R7 5 Savoir Faire (6 g Savabeel – Etiquette) – Michael McNab; he recorded back-to-back victories before finishing seventh in the Listed Hawkes Bay Cup over 2200m on 11 April at Otaki, and since then ran home well for fifth over a sprint distance in a trial on 28 April at Waipa. Contesting the $100,000 Listed Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (1950m), he has six career wins from 2000-2100 metres, with four of those wins coming on soft ground. He placed at his only previous course attempt and, clearly loving life back in New Zealand, he brings right form to prove competitive in this even field. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1:85.

3:57 p.m. R8 2 My Lips Are Sealed (5 m Ace High – Tellmeaboutit) – Opie Bosson; she steadied to travel beyond midfield, was six lengths off the leaders at the 600m, and then was really denied racing room in the straight, remaining back over a sprint distance in a trial on 28 April at Waipa, also with Opie in the saddle. Resuming in the $100,000 Listed Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m), she won the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) on Heavy9 footing in February at Matamata, has the ability to race well when fresh and you never know, the wide draw (14) may on this occasion prove advantageous in what potentially could be her racing swan-song. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30. 

4:32 p.m. R9 19 Viva Glam (4 m Savabeel – Style By Design) – Samantha Collett; she did well to recover after being tardily away in the Pearl Series Fillies & Mares Rating 65 1400 metres here on 22 April, and contests the $35,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. She recorded a dominant Maiden win on Heavy9 in May last year, has placed twice at this distance, and with a start confirmed off the ballot, she is more than capable of racing well. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.50.

Ararat:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

2:12 p.m. (NZ) - 12:12 p.m. (Vic) R1 3 Gracconi (3 g Nicconi – Diamond Grace) – Lachlan King; he finished strongly out of the ruck only to be claimed near the line when second on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 16 April at Echuca, and contests the A$32,000 Maiden 1600 metres. He displayed good attributes first-up, and looks a top three chance from the handy draw (3). 

3:31 p.m. (NZ) - 1:31 p.m. (Vic) R3 9 Lucky Single (3 f Lucky Vega – Single In London) – Joe Bowditch; she kept finding after travelling three-wide on the pace to win a trial on 23 April at Caulfield, and debuts in the A$32,000 Maiden 1100 metres. Her dam Single In London (Not A Single Doubt) won four races from 1200m – 1600m in Australia, and has left three winners of seven races from 900m – 1500m. She displayed ability in that trial win and shapes to race well first-up if she can secure some luck from the wide gate (15). 

Caulfield:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft6, rail: out 12 metres. Showers forecast Friday and 3mls rain Saturday morning.

3:15 p.m. (NZ) - 1:15 p.m. (Vic) R3 3 Azazel (3 g Shocking – Alagant Angel) – Mark Zahra; he looked good when finishing second in a 1500-metre trial here on 23 April, and resumes in the A$150,000 3YO 1600 metres. Earlier in the season he made it two wins from three starts in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m), and spelled following the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m). He won on debut over 1600 metres, has already recorded two wins from four starts, and a good first up performance is on the cards in the hands of the top rider. NZ TAB fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00.

3:50 p.m. (NZ) - 1:50 p.m. (Vic) R4 4 Chateau Eze (3 f Frankel – Antibes) – Mark Zahra; she was denied racing room before finishing belatedly for sixth in the Three-Year-Old Fillies 1200 metres on 18 April at Mornington, and contests the A$150,000 3YO Fillies 1400 metres. A winner over 1200 metres, she has been course/distance stakes’ placed, and appears ready for the step up in distance but Zahra will be required to navigate her sticky barrier (10). NZ TAB fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.05. 

Main picture - My Lips Are Sealed - Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes