Te Akau Trans Tasman Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Sunday 28 December: Taupo and Timaru, in New Zealand, and one horse entered at Seymour, Victoria.

Taupo:  

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft5, rail: out 1 metre. Showers forecast. 

4:11 p.m. R7 6 What You Wish For (5 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Wiremu Pinn; he came to the end of his run out of midfield in the Group 3 Manawatu Cup over 2300m on 20 December at Trentham, and contests the $100,000 Harcourts Taupo Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m). Gee is a previous course winner and stakes’ winner over 2000 metres, which will stand him in good stead but the challenge for him to notch up another win is his shocker of a draw (15). Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70.

Timaru:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. Showers forecast. 

3:24 p.m. R3 2 Malmaison (5 g Darci Brahma – Altai Rose) – Bruno Queiroz;  he got back from a wide draw (10) and remained there when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 6 December at Trentham. Contesting the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres, he won four times to 1200 metres in his last campaign and we know he has the ability so this is his chance to improve with things go his way for barrier eight - the rider is certainly formulating a great record with the stable. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.80.

4:01 p.m. R4 8 Shockabella (4 m Shocking – My Isabella) – Bruno Queiroz; she made a mid-race move from last to sit three-wide on the pace, a decision that took its toll in the Rating 60 2100 metres on 5 December at Riccarton (poly-track), just too tough an ask. Contesting the $18,500 Rating 60 2200 metres, she fought solidly in her previous start on the turf, won her Maiden over 1800 metres, and while she can bounce back, she’s another who has drawn dreadfully (16). Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.90.

5:13 p.m. R6 3 Purple Prose (4 g Embellish – Lady Masako) – Triston Moodley (a1); he settled three back on the inner and ran home well near the markers in the straight when trialling here on 9 December. Resuming in the $18,500 Rating 65 1200 metres, he raced well last campaign including his Maiden win over 1600 metres. While his breeding suggests he is destined for further, he is capable of a solid first-up performance with decent trip from barrier nine - the first of two in the event for the team - and both home-bred too. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

5:13 p.m. R6 12 Hello Bess (3 f Hello Youmzain – Niamh Elizabeth) – Bruno Queiroz; she stretched out nicely after trailing to win the Maiden 1200 metres on 5 December at Riccarton (poly-track) on debut, also with Queiroz aboard, and contests the $18,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. She is the homebred half-sister to stakes' placed winners Irish Red and Cu Chulainn, and three-time winner Sorcha, all by Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), and she appears capable bold performance despite the step up in grade. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.55.

6:20 p.m. R8 2 Queen Of Naples (4 m Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time) – Bruno Queiroz; again a race with two stable representatives, she found line for fifth after racing three back on outer in the Rating 80 Benchmark 1400 metres on 5 December at Riccarton (poly-track), likewise with Queiroz aboard,. Contesting the $18,500 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1600 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses), she has produced a first and second in two starts over 1600 metres, and  is more than capable of proving competitive with a good dose of luck from her wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $4.80 & $2.00. 

6:20 p.m. R8 12 Corps D’Elite (4 m So You Think – Illuminati) – Triston Moodley (a1); she held her position when finishing fifth in the Rating 65 1600 metres here on 19 November, however she was unable to quicken in the Rating 60 1400 metres on 5 December at Riccarton (poly-track). She has shown herself to be a capable mare, and one that has needed time as she has matured, but we will be needing to see her show improvement here. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00. 

Seymour:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: true. No rain forecast.

6:50 p.m. (NZ) - 4:50 p.m. (Vic) R8 7 Our Paramour (4 m Contributer – Victory Parade) – Liam Riordan;  she finished solidly from beyond midfield for sixth in the Benchmark 66 1600 metres on 5 December at Cranbourne, and contests the A$35,000 Benchmark 62 2000 metres. A maiden winner over 2025 metres, this race sees her stepping up for first time in this campaign, and she is a mare who can prove competitive  but is yet another that will require good navigation skills to negate her wide draw (13). NZ TAB fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.10.

Main picture - Malmaison winning at Riccarton Park