Te Akau Trans Tasman Super Saturday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 14 horses entered on Saturday 7 March: Ellerslie and New Plymouth in new Zealand, and four horses entered at Flemington, Melbourne.

Ellerslie: 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft5, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast. 

12:55 p.m. R1 11 Top Shelf (4 m Savabeel – Saoirse) – Michael Dee; she was denied any racing room in the straight when finishing sixth in the Rating 65 1500 metres on 25 February at Pukekohe, and contests the $80,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. Stakes’ placed, she has placed in four of five starts this season, and has definite first four claims if our former apprentice can secure a good passage from a tricky barrier (10). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.90.

1:32 p.m. R2 6 Origin Of Love (3 f Snitzel – Re Edit) – Michael Dee; she fought well for fourth after sharing the pace in the Group 2 Lowland Stakes over 2100m on 31 January at Trentham, and is the first of two stable runners contesting the $100,000 Windsor Park Trophy 3YO 1500m. The Group 3 War Decree Stakes’ winner over 1600m, she has since fashioned a very solid record - she was second in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), fifth in Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m), second here in the Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m), and she is a genuine top three prospect. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.05.

1:32 p.m. R2 7 Bolli Belle (3 f Shamus Award – Fille Champagne) – Ben Thompson; she drew out to win by nearly four lengths on debut in the Maiden 1340 metres on 19 January at Wanganui, and made it two from two when beating a good field in the Special Conditions Maiden 1400 metres on 14 February at Matamata, earning her owners an additional $20,000 bonus. Stepping in class for the Windsor Park Trophy, she has displayed the capabilities of measuring up and the market reflects that thought. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.05.

2:09 p.m. R3 1 Quintessa (5 m Shamus Award – Chaquinta) – Opie Bosson; how good to see her back! She has combined trials and exhibition gallops since contesting the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) in October, and resumes in the $600,000 Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Classic over 1400m. The dual Group One winner of the Levin Classic (1600m) and Proisir Plate (1400m), the latter with a brilliant last to first performance earlier this season at Ellerslie, she definitely possesses the class to prove very competitive from barrier four. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.60.

3:28 p.m. R5 3 Out Of The Blue (2 g Tivaci – Cornflower Blue) – Opie Bosson; he ran the fastest last 600m (35.4) in the Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) on 24 January at Ellerslie when finishing seventh after blowing the start. He was then a gallant second in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) on 14 February at Matamata. One of two for the stable lining up in the $550,000 Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), he won first two starts impressively for his ‘Tangerine Army’ owners, has proven himself to be up to the best two-year-olds, and rates a top four chance from barrier six with the gun rider engaged. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $3.40. 

3:28 p.m. R5 5 Lara Antipova (2 f Russian Revolution – Artistic Lass) – Michael Dee; she remained unbeaten in three starts when providing Te Akau with its 11th victory in the Group 2 J Swap Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on 14 February at Matamata. Also contesting the Group 1 Sistema Stakes, all three of her wins have been marked by big margins, and she certainly warrants favouritism from barrier four. Fixed odds: $1.65 & $1.10.

Te Akau previously won the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) eight times, most recently last year with Return To Conquer (Snitzel), who recorded the 100th Group One win for Te Akau, and is now preparing to serve his first season at Waikato Stud.

5:13 p.m. R8 4 Towering Vision (3 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision) – Opie Bosson; he wound up with a big finish from last to win the 3YO 1600 metres here on 1 January and raced very well again for a very close second in the Group 2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) on 7 February at Te Rapa when just caught on the line. The only glitch in his form line came when contesting the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) here on 21 February, but he has the talent and will be looking to bounce back in the $1.25 million Group 1 HKJC World Pool NZ Derby (2400m). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

Te Akau previously won the Group 1 NZ Derby in 2017 with Gingernuts (Iffraaj). 

5:48 p.m. R9 2 To Bravery Born (3 g Snitzel – Milunka) – Rory Hutchings; the first of Te Akau’s “NZB Kiwi Quartet”, he closed strongly in the Group 3 Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) here on 21 February, won by stable-mate Belle Cheval (below), and contests the $4 million NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m). He has impressed winning four of his 10 starts and is ideally drawn (5) to race well, better than his market price suggests. Fixed odds: $81.00 & $9.00.

5:48 p.m. R9 5 La Dorada (3 f Super Seth – Gold Fever) – Ben Thompson; the second of our “NZB Kiwi Quartet”, she finished well for third in the Karaka Millions 3YO over 1600m here on 24 January, and ran home well over a sprint trip for fifth in a Group & Listed trial on 22 February at Taupo. Taking her place in the NZB Kiwi as “The People’s Horse”, she was crowned last season’s Champion Two-Year-Old after winning the Karaka Million 2YO and Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes last season, and has drawn (6) to be competitive. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $2.70.

5:48 p.m. R9 8 He Who Dares (3 c Snitzel – Rondinella) – Opie Bosson; the third of our “NZB Kiwi Quartet”, he finished a clear second after leading in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) here on 24 January, but remained pocketed in the trail when finishing solidly for second in a Group & Listed trial on 22 February at Taupo. He is the horse who has come closest to the red hot favourite when second ,only  beaten a short neck, in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas.  He was a debut winner that has since placed three times at Group & Listed levels, likes this course and can make his presence felt if Opie gets some luck from the difficult gate (13). Fixed odds: $23.00 & $3.60. 

5:48 p.m. R9 11 Belle Cheval (3 f Savabeel – Keepa Cheval) – Michael Dee; the last of our “NZB Kiwi Quartet”, she won the Group Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions Night (24 Jan.) in impressive fashion, and was exactly the same again in the Group 3 Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) on 21 February, both here at Ellerslie. Unbeaten in three course attempts, she arrives in sparkling form, and has top three credentials if things can go her way from the wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $1.90. 

Te Akau won the inaugural running of the NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m) last year with Damask Rose (Savabeel) - main picture.

New Plymouth: 

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

12:35 p.m. R2 6 When Stars Align (4 g Zoustar – Shenandoah) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he worked hard to the lead from the outside gate (14), was taken on at the 600m, and fought well all things considered for a close fifth in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 7 February at Te Rapa, won by stable-mate Egyptian Queen. Contesting the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres, he has been in a purple patch of form winning two of his last four starts, has the plus of weight relief to 54.5kg, and is ideally placed to deliver a top three finish. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.20. 

1:53 p.m. R4 10 Chica De Oro (3 f Medaglia d’Oro – Channeled’s Lady) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she worked forward to second on the outer, was challenged rounding the home turn, and sustained a good effort for fourth in a trial on 24 February at Tauranga. Debuting in the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres, she has been solid through her trials’ stage, brings the speed to negate her wide draw (10), has the benefit weight relief to 54kg with our in-form apprentice aboard, and is expected to acquit  herself well first-up. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.30.

4:22 p.m. R8 1 Hakkinen (4 g Savabeel – Miss Scandinavia) – Hayley Hassman (a2); he closed strongly from last after drawing wide (12) in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 20 December at Te Rapa, was freshened, and then remained back while running on fine over a sprint trip in a trial on 17 February at Avondale. Resuming in the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, he was fourth in both the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) last season. While he will be destined for further in this new campaign, he enjoys some weight relief (to 59kg) and does have the ability to be respected as a realistic top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.50. 

Flemington:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 6 metres. No rain forecast. 

5:40 p.m. (NZ) - 3:40 p.m. (Vic) R7 6 Watch Me Rock (5 g Awesome Rock – What Choux Want) – William Pike; he finished sixth after trailing in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) on 21 February at Caulfield, also with Pike aboard, and contests the A$2 million Group 1  Sharp EIT The All-Star Mile (1600m). A newcomer to the stable, he is the winner of 11 races from 1200m – 1800m, including the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m), and handily drawn (5) in what is, as to be expected, a tough field. NZ TAB fixed odds: $31.00 & $6.50. 

6:15 p.m. (NZ) - 4:15 p.m. (Vic) R8 5 Damask Rose (4 m Savabeel – Sombreuil) – Craig Williams; after finding no luck in the straight, she ran on strongly near the rail for third in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) on 21 February at Caulfield, likewise with Williams aboard, and contests the A$200,000 Group 3 De Bortoli Wines Matron Stakes over 1600m. She had resumed with a grand performance for second in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m), won the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi last season in New Zealand, and while the barrier (12) might not seem ideal, it should keep her clear of traffic.  She is such an honest mare who deserves a change of fortune, and it would be fitting - exactly a year to the day of her NZB Kiwi victory - if she snared her first Group title in Australia. NZ TAB fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.80. 

6:55 p.m. (NZ) - 4:55 p.m. (Vic) R9 11 Geegees Mistruth (4 m Wordsmith – Miss Mana) – Lachlan Neindorf; she reared at the start and took no part in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) on 21 February at Caulfield, and trialled perfectly since on 2 March at Cranbourne. Contesting the A$2 million Group 1 Yulong Newmarket Handicap (1200m), she was extremely unlucky finishing third when resuming in the Listed W. J. Adams Stakes (1000m) prior to her last start misfortune, and this is an ideal opportunity for her to bounce back, notwithstanding it is a red-hot field. NZ TAB fixed odds: $41.00 & $8.50. 

7:35 p.m. (NZ) - 5:35 p.m. (Vic) R10 9 Jenni’s Meadow (4 m Brutal – Meadow) – Patrick Moloney; she continued her good form when fighting well for a close sixth in the Be Captivated Trophy (Open Handicap, 2500m) here on 14 February, also with Moloney aboard, and contests the $150,000 TAB Australian Cup Prelude (2000m). She has been a Group Two & Three runner-up over 2000 metres, races well on this course, and is ideally drawn (5). NZ TAB fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.50.