Te Akau Trans Tasman Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has three horses entered on Sunday 13 October at Rotorua, and two horses entered at Seymour, Victoria.

Rotorua: 

Weather: fine, track: Heavy8, rail: true. 8mls rain forecast Sunday.

1:32 p.m. R2 1 Wolverine (5 m Tivaci – Knew It) – Ngakau Hailey (a3); she stretched out to easily win a trial here on 19 September, and resumed with a notable effort for fourth in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 27 September at Te Rapa. Back in grade for the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres, she has weight relief to 59.5kg, us a dual Group Two winner, and rates a top four chance but requires luck from her wide draw (13). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.45. 

1:32 p.m. R2 2 Malborough Bay (5 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin) – Opie Bosson; he worked forward outside the leader and stuck on gamely for fourth in the $40,000 Rating 75 1400 metres on 27 September at Te Rapa, won by stable-mate My Lips Are Sealed, and contests the corresponding event. Three of his four wins over 1400 metres have been recorded on yielding ground, and he does bring the right form to this contest to race well again if he handles the course at his first attempt. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.20. 

2:38 p.m. R4 7 Bella Voce (4 m Fastnet Rock – Keep On Singing) – Opie Bosson; she was unable to round off in heavy ground when trialling on 8 October at Matamata, and resumes in the $40,000 Rating 65 1215 metres. She sustained a strong finish for third when trialling here in September, charged away to powerfully win a Pearl Series Maiden 1200 metres in June at Matamata, has blinkers on and possesses the ability to prove competitive if she too is appreciative of the prevailing conditions. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80. 

Seymour:

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

2:30 p.m. (NZ) ~ 12:30 p.m. (Vic) R1 12 Stage ‘n’ Screen (3 f Ace High – Inthespotlight) – Michael Dee; she was never off the bridle when finishing second in a jump out (trial) on 7 October at Cranbourne, and debuts in the A$37,500 Maiden 1200 metres. She last trialled in May at Waipa (Te Awamutu), when drawing to a winning advantage early in the home straight. She was very good through the trials’ stage in New Zealand before relocating to our Australian stable with two seconds and a win. While she has the pedigree to appreciate more distance, she is ideally drawn (1) to prove competitive first-up if her barrier manners (which have been studiously worked on) have improved - and of course she has the services of the in-form, former Te Akau apprentice Mick Dee. NZ TAB fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.80.

6:55 p.m. (NZ) ~ 4:55 p.m. (Vic) R9 6 Midnight Blue (8 g So You Think – Midnight Special) – Daniel Stackhouse; speaking of former, in-form Te Akau apprentices, Midnight Blue will have another aboard for the feature and he looked good winning a jump out (trial) on 23 September at Cranbourne. Resuming in the A$200,000 Listed Bet 365 Seymour Cup 1600m., he set terms in front when easily winning the A$150,000 Benchmark 100 2000 metres on 4 May at Caulfield, also with Stackhouse aboard. He found the line for fifth when resuming in the Seymour Cup last year, will likely race in or near the lead and is capable of proving competitive before stepping up in distance. NZ TAB Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.00.