Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has one horse entered on Saturday 1 August at Riccarton, Christchurch, and one horse entered at Flemington, Melbourne.

Riccarton: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: true. 9mls rain forecast Friday and 3mls rain Saturday. 

4:41 p.m. R10 6 Balance Of Power (6 g Almanzor – Respin) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he ran home resolutely for third in a Rating 75 1600 metres here on 20 June, and finished a close up fourth in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 2 July at Ashburton. Contesting the $35,000 Rating 75 1800 metres, he’s notched up four wins to 2000 metres, with three of those have come on soft ground. He has the ability to prove competitive from barrier two if he handles the Heavy9 track late in the day. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.45. 

Flemington:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 10 metres. No rain forecast.

4:35 p.m.  (NZ) - 2:35 p.m. (Vic) R5 8 Stage ‘N’ Screen (5 m Ace High – Inthespotlight) – Logan Bates (a1.5); she ran home well for sixth from back on inner in the Benchmark 74 1200 metres on 8 July at Sandown, also with Logan Bates aboard, and contests the A$130,000 Benchmark 78 Mares 1410 metres. She finished fourth in the Listed Amanda Elliott Stakes (1400m) here last season, at her only previous course attempt. She has been a winner over 1400 metres, and while she does meet a strong field today, she is ideally drawn (2) to make her presence felt. NZ TAB fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.00. 

Main picture - Stage 'N' Screen winning at Sandown