Te Akau Trans-Tasman Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Sunday 19 January at Pukekohe, New Zealand and Benalla, Victoria.  

Pukekohe:

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

1:30 p.m. R1 5 Rue de Rivoli (4 m Tivaci – Boulevard) – Wiremu Pinn; she travelled in fifth position on the outer and ran home strongly on the bridle for third in a trial here on 17 December. Resuming in the $25,000 Rating 60 1200 metres, she has been a previous winner fresh-up, and rates a top three chance from barrier five. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.65.

2:50 p.m. R3 6 Colonel Warden (3 g Russian Revolution – Moralto) – Wiremu Pinn; he kept finding off a three-wide trip to win the Maiden 3YO 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and contests the $25,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Third on debut in the Listed Champagne Stakes last season, he is now a winner from three starts, but faces tougher assignment here. He rates a top three chance from barrier one. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $1.95.   

4:35 p.m. R6 1 Cognoscenti (3 g Castelvecchio – Irish Goodbye) – Wiremu Pinn; he quickened off a trail to win the Maiden 1400 metres on 20 December at Matamata, also with Pinn aboard, and contests the $25,000 3YO 1400 metres. He raced in good fields during three starts as two-year-old, and while this task is a step up, he can make his presence felt from the handy draw (1). Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.65.  

Benalla:

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

3:15 p.m. (NZ time) R2 7 Rasp (3 g Street Boss – Manicure) – Sage Duric (a4); he settled behind runners and quickened nicely in the straight to win a jump out on 30 December at Cranbourne, and is having his first start for the stable in the A$27,000 Maiden 1206 metres. He finished fourth in a Listed race over 1600 metres, ad while he is destined for further, he is ideally drawn (2) to race well first-up for the team. He will be ridden by new talented apprentice Sage Duric. Fixed odds: $2.15 & $1.16.