Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Saturday 30 May at Te Rapa, New Zealand, and two horses entered at Caulfield, Melbourne.

Te Rapa: 

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

12:17 p.m. R1 15 Trouble Maker (3 f Redwood – Always In Trouble) – Masa Hashizume; she fought on after travelling behind the leaders in the Maiden 2YO & Up 1400 metres on 13 May at Matamata, and contests the $20,000 Maiden 2YO & 3YO 1600 metres. She has a pedigree that suggests she will appreciate the increase in distance and is ideally drawn in barrier three. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.80.

1:27 p.m. R3 8 Presence Of Mind (3 f Fastnet Rock – Supreme Mind) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she produced a terrific performance to win the Maiden 2YO & Up 1000 metres on 3 May at Tauherenikau, and found the line well for fifth after being shuffled back in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 13 May at Matamata. Contesting the $35,000 3YO 1100 metres, the apprentice aboard brings weight relief to just 53kg, and this is a good opportunity for her to measure up in a stronger field. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.10.

2:39 p.m. R5 7 Bright Stripes (5 g Starspangledbanner – Dutch Rose) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he was given a quiet trial on 19 May at Taupo, and resumes in the $35,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. He was a winner as a two and three-year-old in UK, including the Listed Tetrach Stakes (1600m), and has transferred from the Te Akau stable in Melbourne. He has been gelded since last racing, enjoys weight relief to 53kg, and this race looks a good starting point for his new campaign. NZ TAB fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.15.

Caulfield:

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy8, rail: true. 2mls rain forecast Saturday afternoon. 

3:00 p.m. (NZ) - 1:00 p.m. (Vic) R3 3 Cinturato (3 g Shamus Award – Pirellina) – Jamie Mott; he made light work of the Heavy10 conditions when proving too strong in the Benchmark 70 3YO 1400 metres on 7 May at Warrnambool, also with Mott aboard, and contests the A$150,000 3YO 1400 metres. He has fashioned a solid racing record thus far including two wins over 1400 metres, and while he meets a stronger field, he has shown the versatility to handle heavy footing. He brings the right form to prove competitive as long as he can navigate the outside draw (12). NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.50 & $2.60.

6:00 p.m. (NZ) - 4:00 p.m. (Vic) R8 1 Bellatrix Star (4 m Star Witness – Alana’s Party) – Luke Currie; she trialled well for fourth here on 14 May, and resumes in the A$175,000 Listed Sportsbet Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m). Among her four stakes’ wins so far, she included the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) here as a three-year-old but she has had a lengthy injury break that was potentially career ending before racing again this season. She carries top weight (60kg), but is handily drawn (3) and seeks an encouraging return to racing. NZ TAB fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.00. 

Main picture - Presence of Mind winning