Te Akau Trans Tasman Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has seven horses entered on Sunday 16 August at Taupo, New Zealand, and two horses entered at Ballarat, Victoria.

Taupo: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy9, rail: out 2 metres. Showers forecast Sunday.

1:14 p.m. R3 1 Kinnaird (3 g Home Affairs – Orinda) – Kyle Wilson-Taylor; he ran home strongly to win a trial in July in Avondale, and was encouraging when still finishing close up when unable to quicken on Heavy10 going in a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa. One of three stablemates contesting the $50,000 3YO Colts & Geldings 1100m, he was a debut and Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) winner last season. Resuming today, he performs well when fresh and certainly is capable of a top three finish.  Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.60. 

1:14 p.m. R3 2 Out Of The Blue (3 g Tivaci – Cornflower Blue) – Masa Hashizume; the second for the stable in the third race, he quickened appreciably on inside to snatch the win when trialling on 4 August at Te Rapa, and resumes in the 3YO Colts & Geldings 1100m. He has been Group and Listed placed after impressively winning his first two starts last season, and is ideally drawn (2) to give this field a real shake. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.70.

1:14 p.m. R3 3 Honour Roll (3 g Savabeel – Honor) – Michael McNab; he led before knocking up on Heavy10 ground to finish fourth in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) on 10 July at Otaki, and is the third of the stable trio lining up in the 3YO Colts & Geldings 1100m. He raced clear for a fresh-up win over 1200 metres on a Soft7 track in May at Matamata, and he too can deliver a first three result. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.45. 

1:46 p.m. R4 8 Arrazola (4 m Almanzor – Shanzam) – Masa Hashizume; she coursed wide in midfield from the outside gate and sustained a strong effort for third in a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa, also with Masa Hashizume aboard. Resuming in the $17,000 Maiden 1400 metres, she is the sister to Group Three winner and multiple Group placed Mary Shan, and her Group Three winning grand-dam Shanzero (Danzero) impressed over 1600 metres. One of two in the race for the team, she can be right in the thick of the finish here from her handy gate (2).  Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

1:46 p.m. R4 9 Quenza (4 m Almanzor – Bavella) – Michael McNab; she angled widest on straightening and finished strongly for second in a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa. Also resuming in the Maiden 1400 metres, she has finished strongly for second in each of her three trials here prior to racing, and looks a top four contender from barrier one. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80.

3:05 p.m. R6 3 Towering Vision (4 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision) – Michael McNab; he was allowed to find his feet three back on the inner and then ran home well for fourth in a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa, with Michael McNab in the saddle for that trial too. Fresh up in the $17,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, he was a stakes’ winning two-year-old (the first for his sire), and finished second in the Group 2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) last season. He is another who acts well when fresh, and look for him to be finding the line strongly from barrier one. Fixed odds: $2.25 & $1.20. 

4:25 p.m. R8 2 Belle Du Monde (4 m Zoustar – Lady Cartier) – Craig Grylls; she finished fourth after taking up a handy position in trial on 4 August at Te Rapa, likewise with Craig Grylls aboard, and resumes in the $17,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She was a fresh-up winner in August last season, finished fourth in Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m), and possesses the ability to deliver a top three result. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.65. 

Ballarat:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy10, rail: out 10 metres. No rain forecast. 

4:35 p.m. (NZ) - 2:35 p.m. (Vic) R5 3 Fierce Flight (8 g Flying Artie – First Bloom) – Luca Remondet; he remained back in a five horse field for the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) on 2 August at Sandown, also with Luca Remondet aboard. He is still learning this craft but did finish third in a steeplechase the start prior and receives an opportunity to improve in the A$35,000 Benchmark 120 Steeplechase (3250m). NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.40. 

5:15 p.m. (NZ) - 3:15 p.m. (Vic) R6 5 The Mighty Spar (9 g Savabeel – O’Dianne) – Jordan Hart; he was pulled up in the Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) on 2 August at Sandown, and contests the A$350,000 Ecycle Solutions Grand National Steeplechase (4500m). He brings excellent jumping credentials in Australia to the equation, having won over $500,000 in his career overall. He finished second in the corresponding race last season, won by stable-mate Leaderboard in a Te Akau trifecta, is the winner of seven jumps’ races, and will be looking to bring his A game. NZ TAB fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.20. 

Main picture - Our Of The Blue winning