Te Akau Trans-Tasman Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Sunday 7 July at Tauranga, New Zealand and Warrnambool, Victoria.

Tauranga:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy9, rail: out 5 metres. No rain forecast. 

2.29 p.m. R4 1 Baronet (4 g Contributer – Alpha Dame) – Wiremu Pinn; he never faulted when sustaining a strong gallop on Heavy9 footing to win the $17,000 Rating 65 1200 metres on 27 June at Te Aroha, also with Pinn aboard, and remains in the same grade for the corresponding event. Up 2kgs for this assignment, he carries 59.5kg, and again appears ideally placed to rate a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.70. 

Warrnambool: 

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

4:00 p.m. (NZ) ~ 2:00 p.m. (Vic) R4 7 Prismatic (5 g Savabeel – Kaleidoscope) – Aaron Kuru; he easily won the Maiden Hurdle (3200m) on 30 May at Hamilton (Victoria), and finished strongly for second in the Coastal Wholesalers Hurdle (3200m) here on 23 June, each with Kuru aboard. He has fashioned a good record around 3000m – 3200m races, has the leading rider engaged again, and is a definite top three contender in the $100,000 Carter Group Kevin Lafferty Hurdle (3200m). NZ TAB fixed odds: $2.35 & $1.20.

5:20 p.m. (NZ) ~ 3:20 p.m. (Vic) R6 8 (NZ time) Leaderboard (9 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy) – Aaron Kuru; he stepped up with a great performance for second in the Australian Hurdle (3900m) on 2 June at Sandown, and gave a flawless display of jumping when winning the BM120 Steeplechase (3450m) here on 23 June, also with Kuru aboard. He easily won (3 ¼ lengths) the Maiden Hurdle (3200m) on 30 April at Warrnambool, again with Kuru aboard, has a very good jumping record, and looks a serious first three prospect in the $100,000 Hammonds Paints Thackery Steeplechase (3450m). NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.40.