Te Akau Trans Tasman Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has two horses entered on Sunday 1 June at Wingatui. New Zealand and one horse at Sandown, Melbourne.

Wingatui:  

Weather: showery, track: Heavy10, rail: true. No rain forecast Sunday.

11:30 a.m. R1 1 Cool Aza Rene (2 f Cool Aza Beel – Irene) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1); raced between runners in lead, at genuine pace, and remained on terms in straight while sustaining strong gallop for close second when trialling on 20 May at Ashburton. Resuming in the $35,000 2YO 820 metres, did everything right winning twice earlier in season, two trial wins on heavy, and warrants favouritism. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.40. 

11:30 a.m. R1 10 Options Open (2 f Darci Brahma – Optimiser) – Hayley Hassman (a4); settled handily behind leaders, across heels to outside 250m, and ran home solidly for second in trial on 20 May at Ashburton. Debuting in the $35,000 2YO 820 metres, has handled heavy footing in trials, weight relief to 51kg, and shapes to prove competitive first-up. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.50. 

Sandown: 

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

2:30 p.m. (NZ) ~ 12:30 p.m. (Vic) R2 2 Leaderboard (10 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy) – Will Gordon; fell when mounting pressure to leader in the Brierley Steeplechase (3450m) on 29 April at Warrnambool, and since had flat race over 3000 metres. Contesting the $100,000 Sportsbet Australian Steeplechase (3900m), in great form over jumps before the fall, and opportunity to resurrect mantle. NZ TAB fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.30.