Te Akau Trans Tasman Thursday Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Thursday 13 March at Ashburton, New Zealand and one horse entered at Pakenham, Victoria.

Ashburton:

Weather: fine, track: Heavy8, rail: true - no rain forecast Thursday. 

2:15 p.m. R5 4 Polly Plum (6 m Xtravagant – Herstory) – Yogesh Atchamah (a2); she was back and wide, finishing fifth on Heavy8 footing in the Rating 75 1200 metres last Wednesday at Riccarton, and drops in grade for the $18,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. Three of her four wins have come on heavy going, she is ideally drawn (3), and should strike conditions to enhance her competitiveness - one of three in the race for the team. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

2:15 p.m. R5 6 Angels Wings (5 m Heroic Valour – Gowana) – Kylie Williams; she found line from last, after drawing barrier 11, in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 19 February at Riccarton, and also contests the $18,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. She has posted good efforts for third and second at her starts prior, however she has drawn very wide (14) and will also need to show she is adept on this type of track condition. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25.

2:15 p.m. R5 8 French Rose (5 m Burgundy – Paraiba) – Ashvin Goindasamy; she found the line for fourth after being shuffled back near the rail in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 19 February at Riccarton, and likewise contests the $18,500 Rating 65 1200 metres. She's recorded three wins over this distance, and certainly is up to making her presence felt but is yet another who has copped a shocking draw (12). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25.

4:04 p.m. R8 2 Kabugee (5 g Satono Aladdin – Kabuki) – Lily Sutherland (a); he was back to his very best when winning the Rating 75 1400 metres on 19 February at Riccarton, running the fastest last 600m (34.4) on the day, and remains in the same grade for the $18,500 Rating 75 1400 metres. While he rises 2kg to carry 59kg, he has shown that he does appreciate some give in the ground, and he rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15.

4:04 p.m. R8 7 Mazzucato (4 m Tivaci – Yellen) – Rohan Mudhoo; she ran on without threatening from a rearward position when resuming without a trial in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 23 February, and also contests the $18,500 Rating 75 1400 metres. She delivered a very good winning performance over 1400 metres when racing well during Cup Week in November at Riccarton, handles yielding ground, and rates top four in even field. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.70.

Pakenham:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 2 metres - no rain Thursday.  

10:15 p.m. (NZ) ~ 8:15 p.m. (Vic) R6 7 Exuberance (3 f Savabeel – Miss Opulence) – Blake Shinn; she stretched out strongly from back in the field for second when resuming in the Benchmark 64 1200 metres for three-year-old fillies on 19 February at Sandown, also with Shinn aboard, and contests the A$40,000 Benchmark 64 3YO 1200 metres. She won second-up over 1200 metres in her first campaign, was spelled following the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m), and rates a top three chance from barrier one. NZ TAB fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.90.