Te Akau Trans Tasman Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Sunday 6 September at Timaru, New Zealand and one horse entered at Bendigo, Victoria.

Timaru:

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft7, rail: out 2.5 metres from 400m, tapered back to true from crossing. 20mls rain forecast Sunday. 

12:38 p.m. R1 2 Cognoscenti (5 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he ended his previous campaign with consecutive wins over 2000 metres at Riccarton, and finished strongly near the rail to win a trial here on 11 August. Resuming in the $25,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres, he has won three of his last six starts, and while he is destined to step up further in distance, he’s drawn ideally (2) and brings right form to prove competitive in what has turned out a small field. Fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.15.  

2:26 p.m. R4 1 Never Too Much (3 g Rubick – Rebel’s Choice) – Hayley Hassman (a1); he began smartly to lead, travelled freely, quickened to a clear advantage at the 200m and drew out to stylishly win a trial on 25 August at Ashburton. Resuming in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, he placed in three of four starts as two-year-old, including running second to stable-mate Enchantment (Hello Youmzain) in Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m), and has landed the right alley (2) to justify favouritism. Fixed odds: $2.45 & $1.45.

3:37 p.m. R6 2 Dream Of The Moon (5 m All Too Hard – Moonchild) – Hayley Hassman (a1); she trailed from barrier one, shot clear nearest the markers in the home straight and sustained a strong finish to win comfortably when trialling on 25 August at Ashburton. Resuming in the $18,500 Rating 75 1200 metres, she is a stakes’ winner who has been twice Group placed. She certainly looked good winning her trial, can race well when fresh, and looks a top three chance first-up. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.50.

4:10 p.m. R7 8 Cool In Command (3 g Cool Aza Beel – Mountford) – Hayley Hassman (a1); coasted clear for fresh-up win in the Maiden 1200 metres on 20 August at Riccarton (poly-track), with Hassman aboard, and contests the $18,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. Prior to resuming, she remained unpressured while sustaining effort for third in trial here on 11 August, and ideally drawn (3) to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.50. 

Bendigo:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 8 metres. 5mls rain forecast Saturday and no rain Sunday. 

3:45 p.m. (NZ) - 1.45 p.m. (Vic) R4 16 Meness (3 c Ghaiyyath – Snitzel’s Moon) – Mark Zahra; he kept up a strong effort on Heavy10 footing to win a jump out on 24 August at Cranbourne, with Mark Zahra aboard on that occasion too, and resumes in the A$42,500 Maiden 3YO 1300 metres. He delivered a strong runner-up performance in his second of two starts as two-year-old, and is by four-time Group One winner and 2020 World Champion Ghaiyyath (Dubawi), from a solid stakes’ winning family. He gives every impression that he will commence his new campaign and season with a bold showing. NZ TAB fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.05.

Main picture - Dream of the Moon winning