Te Akau Trans Tasman Thursday Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Thursday 5 February at Tauranga, New Zealand, and two horses entered at Pakenham, Victoria.

Tauranga:  

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: out 3 metres 1000m – 400m, remainder true. Showers forecast Wednesday and no rain forecast Thursday.  

12:42 p.m. R1 11 She Suits Herself (3 f Savile Row – Sleepy Girl) – Craig Grylls; she appreciated the increased distance and Heavy10 footing when finishing close second in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) on 24 January at New Plymouth, and contests the $18,500 Maiden 2100 metres. From a talented staying family, she brings right form to rate a top three chance with luck from wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.45.

3:09 p.m. R5 2 Family Ties (6 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Hayley Hassman (a2); she travelled three-wide in midfield and sustained a strong finish for second in a trial on 20 January at Pukekohe. Resuming in the $18,500 Rating 75 1400 metres, she weight relief to 57.5kg, was a course/distance winner at her only attempt. She is a five-time winner to 2000m, has the ability to act fresh, and is a genuine performer. Fixed odds: $23.00 & $5.50. 

3:48 p.m. R6 11 Uptown (3 f Savabeel – Urban) – Craig Grylls; she kept finding for fourth when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres here on 2 January, and finished well for third in the Maiden 1600 metres on 23 January at Matamata. Contesting the $18,500 Maiden 1600 metres, is trending in the right direction and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15.

4:23 p.m. R7 8 Crown Princess (4 m Embellish – Princess Davone) – Opie Bosson; she found the line solidly on Soft7 footing for fourth in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 23 January at Matamata, and contests the $18,500 Rating 65 1600 metres. She ended last season with solid fifth in Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m), did well in all three starts including impressive Maiden win over 1560 metres, and is a top three contender.  Fixed odds: $3.90 & $1.70.   

Pakenham:

Weather: overcast, track: Good4, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast. 

10:45 p.m. (NZ) - 8:45 p.m. (Vic) R7 3 Astari (3 g Starspangledbanner – Belzella) – Lachlan Neindorf; he chased well for second in the Benchmark 62 1125 metres on 20 January at Geelong, and contests the A$40,000 Class 1 1100 metres. He was a winner fresh-up over 1100 metres, has placed in three of four starts since, including here, and rates a top three chance if he can secure a decent trip from barrier eight. TAB fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.35.

11:15 p.m. (NZ) - 9:25 p.m. R8 3 Royal Rendezvous (3 g Royal Meeting – Alana’s Party) – Lachlan Neindorf; he was swamped late after setting a genuine pace to finish fifth in the Benchmark 64 3YO 1200 metres on 21 January at Sandown, and contests the A$40,000 Benchmark 62 1200 metres. He powered home to win on debut with Neindorf aboard, was a very unlucky fourth second-up, and from barrier four he should be right in the thick of things at the business end. NZ TAB fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.40.   

Main picture: Family Times winning