Te Akau Trans-Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Saturday 13 June: Te Rapa and Wanganui, New Zealand, and one horse entered at Sandown, Victoria.

Te Rapa: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast. 

2:00 p.m. R6 2 Leaderboard (11 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy) – Hamish McNeill; he finished fifth in the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) on 7 May at Warrnambool (Victoria), and ran on well for third over 1300 metres in a trial on 2 June at Pukekohe. Contesting $75,000 Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase (3900m), he ended his last season winning the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) in Australia, and makes welcome return to NZ jumps’ racing for his Swanson farewell before retirement. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.55.

3:50 p.m. R9 5 El Viento (5 g El Roca – Mandeville) – Craig Grylls; he continued his good form with a close third after trailing in the Open Handicap 1600 metres on 23 May at Ellerslie, and contests the $40,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres. He actually ran the fastest last 600m in each of his two runs (when second and fourth) here in April and May, and is a five-time winner to 1800 metres. He is also versatile on a range of footing, and rates a top three chance from barrier two. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.80.

4:24 p.m. R10 7 Sense of Timing (5 m Time Test – Pin Up Lae) – Craig Grylls; she found the line solidly for fourth in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 16 May at Otaki, and contests the $35,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. She impressed winning here over 1500 metres last May, has been stakes’ placed three times, and is perfectly drawn (4) to race well in what has emerged as a strong field. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.70.

Wanganui: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft7, rail: out 4 metres. Showers forecast Saturday afternoon.

11:27 a.m. R1 4 Sword Of Steel (2 g Sword Of State – Miss Remington) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he sustained a strong gallop to stylishly win a trial on 12 May at Avondale, and looked fine when given a quiet trial on 2 June at Pukekohe. Debuting in the $35,000 2YO 1200 metres, Hayley brings weight relief to 55kg, which is an added bonus.  He is from the first crop of Te Akau purchased and trained Champion Two-Year-Old Sword Of State (Snitzel), the half-brother to five-time winner (1600m – 2400m) Strathtay (Preferment) and he shapes to race well first-up. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.25. 

Sandown:

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy9, rail: out 6 metres. Rain forecast Saturday afternoon. 

2:25 p.m. (NZ time) R2 12 Lucky Single (3 f Lucky Vega – Single In London) – Lachlan Neindorf; she followed her debut second with gutsy win on heavy ground in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 28 May at Moe, and contests the A$150,000 Benchmark 70 3YO Fillies 1200 metres. Her dam Single In London (Not A Single Doubt) won four races from 1200m – 1600m in Australia, and while she meets a stronger opposition, she does bring the right form to prove competitive. NZ TAB fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.

Main picture - Sense of Timing winning