Te Akau Trans-Tasman Thursday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 13 horses entered on Thursday 9 November: Taupo, Ashburton, and Flemington (Melbourne). 

Taupo:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy8, rail: out 2.5 metres. No rain forecast.

12:26 p.m. R2 3 Balance Of Power (3 g Almanzor – Respin) – Opie Bosson; he closed well for fourth when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1300 metres here on 15 September, has been given time (55 days), and contests the $18,500 Maiden 1400 metres. Stakes' placed as two-year-old on heavy ground, he rates a top three chance with any luck from his outside gate (15) - he has the man in the saddle to counter the challenge. 

1:02 p.m. R3 1 Merlotti (4 g Burgundy – Ruppertsberg) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he received an economical trip when finishing second first-up on Heavy8 in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 26 October at Rotorua, and contests the $18,500 Rating 60 1400 metres. A winner on heavy ground previously, he looks a top three prospect but again is another that will need a lot of luck from his wide draw (12). 

1:37 p.m. R4 9 Can’t Kach Me (4 m Tavistock – Kachina) – Opie Bosson; she ran on for fifth and was good through the line when trialling on 10 October at Matamata, and resumes in the $18,500 Maiden 1400 metres. She won a trial on Heavy8 footing, and has the pedigree to appreciate this trip, being out of a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare, but yet again, is another who jumps from the carpark (15).

2:12 p.m. R5 9 Egyptian Queen (3 f Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Michael McNab; she ran on strongly for second after being slowly away when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 18 October at Tauranga, and contests the $18,500 Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $20,000 bonus). Competitive in good two-year-old fields, she has shown she can handle some give in the track and presents as a viable top three proposition breaking from the five barrier.

2:47 p.m. R6 3 Pay The Dancer (3 g Nicconi – Choreography) – Opie Bosson; he began smartly to co-lead on the inner and kept giving for a close second when trialling on 2 November at Cambridge (poly-track), and debuts in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. While he is ideally drawn (2), much will depend on how he handles the prevailing track conditions - one of two in the event for the team. 

2:47 p.m. R6 10 Matakana Girl (3 f Ace High – Bankside Belle) – Sam Weatherley; she went forward three wide and lifted strongly for third in a trial on 10 October at Matamata, and also debuts in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. When trained by Mark Walker, her dam won eight races to 1200 metres, was twice stakes' placed, and left impressive Group Two winner Belle Du Nord (Reliable Man). She shapes to race well if she also copes with the track conditions.

3:22 p.m. R7 5 Caravella (4 m Caravaggio – Highland Lights) – Opie Bosson; she positioned in a gap behind speedster Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) and ran home fine for third in a trial on 31 October at Te Rapa, and resumes in the $18,500 Rating 60 1200 metres. She has shown ability, has drawn the ace, and is positioned to race well if she can handle the heavy track conditions - the first of a stable duo lining up in the event.

3:22 p.m. R7 8 Luxuriant (6 m Iffraaj – Opulent) – Vinnie Colgan; she closed well for fourth in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 26 October at Rotorua, also with Colgan aboard, and likewise contests the $18,500 Rating 60 1200 metres. She has raced well previously in this grade, has had two trial wins on the course, and just requires a touch of luck from the tricky barrier nine. 

3:57 p.m. R8 1 Moon Rocket (3 g Merchant Navy – Moon Lover) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); he produced two good efforts for fourth before finishing midfield in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 18 October at Tauranga, and contests the corresponding event. He looked good winning a trial on heavy ground in August at Te Rapa, and has the opportunity to race well from barrier six - the first of two for the stable in this maiden race. 

3:57 p.m. R8 4 Please Sir (3 g Vespa – Rose And Crown) – Opie Bosson; he began well to lead and kept finding for a close second in a trial on 2 November at Cambridge (poly-track), and debuts in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. He finished second in a trial on heavy ground, but like some of the other Te Akau team racing at Taupo, requires luck from a wide draw (11). 

Ashburton:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy9, rail: out 3 metres. Showers forecast.

4:44 p.m. R9 2 Cote de Beaune (5 g Burgundy – Lucrative) – Samantha Wynne; he circled wide from back in the field and ran on without threatening in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 6 October at Timaru, won by stable-mate Insatiable (All Too Hard). Given time (34 days), he receives opportunity to improve from barrier one if appreciative of heavy conditions in the $18,500 Rating 75 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.70.

5:58 p.m. R11 12 Mazzucato (3 f Tivaci – Yellen) – Rohan Mudhoo; she sustained a massive run to win the Maiden 1400 metres, given the Heavy10 footing, on 30 September at Riccarton, and stood the leader 10 lengths before running the fastest last 600m (34.0) in the Rating 65 1400 metres here on 14 October. Contesting the $18,500 Rating 65 1400 metres, she rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90. 

Flemington:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 5 metres. No rain forecast.

7:50 p.m. (NZ time) - 5:50 p.m. (Vic time) R9 7 Soprano Supreme (5 m Contributer – Falsetto) – Michael Dee; she closed strongly for second in the Open Handicap 2000 metres on 7 October at Matamata, and contests the A$150,000 Benchmark 90 1800 metres on Oaks' Day at Flemington. A winner four times to 2400 metres, she was Group Three placed in the Manawatu Cup (Gr. 3, 2300m) and runner-up in the Gold Coast Cup (2400m), and she is ideally drawn (4) and weighted (54kg) to produce a solid effort. NZ TAB fixed odds: $41.00 & $7.00.