Te Akau Trans Tasman Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 13 horses entered on Saturday 29 August: Wanganui and Riccarton in New Zealand, and three horses entered at Caulfield, Melbourne.

Wanganui:

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy10, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Friday and 6mls Saturday. 

2:42 p.m. R5 2 Out Of The Blue (3 g Tivaci – Cornflower Blue) – Masa Hashizume; he ran home solidly for close fourth when resuming in the 3YO Colts & Geldings 1100m on 16 August at Taupo, also with Masa Hashizume aboard, and contests the $80,000 Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas over 1200m. Group & Listed placed after impressively winning his first two starts last season, he is a genuine fellow who has  the ability to rate a top three chance if appreciative of the track conditions. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.80.

Riccarton:

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy9, rail: out 8 metres to 1000m, then out 11 metres to winning post. No rain forecast. 

12:30 p.m. R1 4 One True King (4 g King’s Legacy – Chicharita) – Michael McNab; he ran home without being out under any pressure for fifth in trial on 11 August at Timaru. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, he is a course/distance winner on Good4 footing last season, but was also a trial winner on a Heavy10 track. His dam won twice on heavy tracks, he has shown to have the ability to race well fresh, but much depends on how he copes with the conditions. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.60.

1:03 p.m. R2 1 Bellish Boy (4 g Embellish – Stylish Achiever) – Michael McNab; he closed the margin stylishly when placing third in a trial on 11 August at Timaru, and resumes in the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres. He looked good finishing first and third in two recent trials, and did race competitively in his first campaign. He looks to have improved as a result of his timely break, and looks a top three chance if appreciative of conditions. Fixed odds: $1.80 & $1.15.

1:37 p.m. R3 4 Cool Aza Rene (4 m Cool Aza Beel – Irene) – Michael McNab; she quickened in the straight and ran home strongly for third in a trial on 11 August at Timaru. Kicking off her new season in the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, she is a dual course winner who has won five of 13 starts to 1400 metres, including the Group 3 Barneswood Stakes (1400m). Of note is the fact that she is unbeaten in two starts on heavy ground. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.65.

2:13 p.m. R4 1 Zafar (3 c Snitzel – Zasorceress) – Michael McNab; the first of two stable runners in the fourth race, he quickened into a gap at the 300m and sustained a strong gallop for third in a trial on 11 August at Timaru, and resumes in the $40,000 3YO 1000 metres. He recorded a debut win here on Good4 footing in the Listed Champagne Stakes over 1200m, and while is is naturally precocious, the question mark will be how he handles the heavy track.  Fixed odds: $2.20 & $1.25.

2:13 p.m. R4 2 Enchantment (3 f Hello Youmzain – Belle Fascino) – Triston Moodley (a); she found clear air rounding the home turn and ran home well for fifth in a trial on 11 August at Timaru. Also resuming in the 3YO 1000 metres, she was a course/distance winner in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m), and established good record last season. The challenge again will be how she gets through the heavy going.  Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.00.

2:50 p.m. R5 4 Marokopa Falls (4 m Hellbent – Beside You) – Triston Moodley (a); she quickened near the rail to level inside the 200m and finished strongly to dead-heat for first in a trial on 11 August at Timaru, and resumes her 4YO preparation in the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. She was a debut winner over 1000 metres, os twice stakes’ placed, has placed at her only course attempt, and has shown the ability to deliver a top three finish if she can handle the heavy going. Fixed odds: $3.70 & $1.75. 

3:25 p.m. R6 2 Insatiable (7 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby) – Samantha Collett; he ended his previous campaign in May with a good course win over 1200 metres on Good4 footing, and this season remained back while otherwise running home fine in a trial on 11 August at Timaru. Making his first new season appearance in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1000 metres, and of note, four of his seven wins have come here at Riccarton. He can race well when fresh but he is yet another who will need to cope with the heavy track conditions that runner haver to contend with on Saturday - one of two in the race for the stable. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.80.

3:25 p.m. R6 4 Trobriand (6 g Kermadec – Arboreal) – Michael McNab; he kept closing the margin, was on the bridle in the straight and surged late into second when trialling on 11 August at Timaru. Also resuming in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1000 metres, he has fashioned a good course record on heavy ground including a win and second in the Listed Stewards Stakes (1200m), and he looks a genuine top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.45. 

4:00 p.m. R7 7 Court Of Appeal (6 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel) – Triston Moodley (a); she travelled well entering the home straight and maintained a strong gallop for a close second in a trial on 11 August at Timaru. Resuming in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres, she is the winner of five races to 2200 metres, a course winner on Heavy8, and is capable of a bold fresh-up performance - the first of a stable duo lining up in this. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.

4:00 p.m. R7 11 Cognoscenti (5 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Michael McNab; he ended his last campaign in April with a course win over 2000 metres on Good3 footing, and since then, finished strongly near the rail to win a trial on 11 August at Timaru. Also resuming in the Open Handicap 1600 metres, he has won three of his last six starts, and while he is destined to step in distance, he brings the right form to prove competitive if he’s able to handle the heavy footing. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90. 

5:05 p.m. R9 7 Balance Of Power (6 g Almanzor – Respin) – Michael McNab; he circled from last to finish fourth on Heavy9 footing in the Rating 75 2000 metres here on 8 August, and is one of two stable starters in the $40,000 Rating 75 1800 metres. With four wins to 2000 metres under his belt, three on soft ground, he brings right form to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.80.

5:05 p.m. R9 10 Queen Of Naples (5 m Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time) – Triston Moodley (a); she fought hard for a close third in the Rating 75 1600 metres here (poly-track) on 23 July, and also contests the Rating 75 1800 metres. A very genuine mare, all three of her career wins have come on the poly-track at Riccarton, but she receives a good opportunity to enhance that record on the turf. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70. 

Caulfield:

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: out 4 metres. Showers forecast. 

2:05 p.m. (NZ) - 12:05 p.m. (Vic) R1 4 Stage ‘n’ Screen (5 m Ace High – Inthespotlight) – Logan Bates (a1.5); she made a perfect start to her new season when winning the Benchmark 78 Mares 1410 metres on 1 August at Flemington, also with Logan Bates aboard, and contests the A$80,000 Benchmark 78 Fillies & Mares 1400 metres. The winner of four races to 1400 metres, she was fourth in the Listed Amanda Elliott Stakes (1400m) in Melbourne, and is ideally drawn (2) to race well again. NZ TAB fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00.

4:20 p.m. (NZ) - 2:20 p.m. (Vic) R5 1 Belle Cheval (4 m Savabeel – Keepa Cheval) – Craig Williams; she worked home nicely from back in the field when having a jump out here on 19 August, likewise with Craig Williams aboard. She stormed home for a hugely unlucky second (nose) in the $4 million NZB Kiwi over 1500m before ending last season winning the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill in Sydney - the only New Zealand-trained horse to win a Group 1 in Australia last season. She has fashioned a terrific record: four wins, a second and two thirds, from seven starts, and is a high-quality filly - look for her to be finding line strongly when resuming in the A$200,000 Group 3 HKJC World Pool Courtza Stakes (1200m). NZ TAB fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.70.

5:30 p.m. (NZ) - 3:30 p.m. (Vic) R7 1 Seize The Day (3 c I Am Invincible – Zimaretto) – Blake Shinn; he extended an incredible record in the race for Te Akau when winning the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in March at Trentham, and recently looked good winning a jump out here 19 August also with Champion Jockey Blake Shinn in the saddle. Resuming in the A$200,000 Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds, he brings an impeccable record, and rates a top three chance fresh-up from barrier three, despite the Group 1 winner weight penalty. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.80.

Main picture - Belle Cheval wins the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes