Te Akau Trans Tasman Weekend Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has one horse entered for the nine-race programme at Ellerslie, two horses on the ten-race card at Wanganui, and two on the eight-race card at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, Saturday May 31.

In fact this weekend Te Akau will be represented at races in the North Island of New Zealand, in Australia and in Singapore - you won't see another stable racing in all three constituencies!

Ellerslie:
As on Friday May 30 the conditions were: fine and Heavy10, rail out 4.5 metres.

3:51pm R8 10 Clos De Tart (4 m Darci Brahma - Rapid Kay) - Michael Coleman; showed plenty of heart to win, after travelling onto the lead at the 600 metres, on May 14 in the Benchmark 65 1400 metres Heavy11 footing at Te Aroha. A race in which she started favourite, following her fresh-up run prior in which she was checked before finishing fourth to Katie's Cove (Zabeel) at Avondale. Drawn barrier eight in the Benchmark 75 1400 metres, she has remained in good fettle since winning and her courageous attributes can assist with the step up in grade.

Wanganui:
As on Friday May 30 the conditions were: fine and Heavy10, rail true.

11:55am R3 13 Quintette (3 f Alamosa - Everswindell) - Matt Cameron; steadied after beginning well and tracked up solidly in tight quarters when finishing fifth on May 17 in the 3YO 1200 metres on Slow7 footing at Te Rapa, won by Allez Eagle (Guillotine). Drawn barrier four, she drops back in class to contest the Benchmark 65 1340 metres and much will depend on her ability to handle the footing.

12:30pm R4 11 Rapid Gain (4 g Flying Spur - Occasional Gain) - Matt Cameron; raced handy to the pace resuming off 106-days in the Benchmark 75 1400 metres on Heavy10 footing at Rotorua, and has taken benefit from the outing. Although up in grade to contest the Benchmark 1340 metres, he comes in on the minimum weight of 54kgs and the winner of three from eight has the ability if appreciative on the footing.

Eagle Farm, Brisbane:
As on Friday May 30 the conditions were: overcast and Good3, rail true.

11:45am (1.45pm NZ time) R1 9 Precious Time (6 m Stravinsky - Ana Zeel) - Vinnie Colgan; lost momentum in a tightening pack at the 600 metres and after never receiving room she finished fifth with more to offer on May 15 in the Class 4 1800 metres on slow ground at the Gold Coast. From barrier eleven, she contests the Benchmark 90 1800 metres and reported by Brad Davison at the Gold Coast Bulletin to be ‘a chance in a very open race'.  Note this race will be screened in New Zealand only on TAB TV channel 62.

3:00pm (5.00pm NZ time) R6 14 Costa Viva (3 f Encosta De Lago - Vivacious Spirit) - Jim Byrne; soon after arriving on May 3 she contested the Gold Coast Guineas (Gr. 3, 1200m) on heavy footing at the Gold Coast Turf Club. From second last in running and still six lengths off the leader a furlong out she closed late to finish 1.6 lengths off the winner in fourth. Facing a wide draw of fifteen in a capacity field of eighteen in the Queensland Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m), she is obviously going to require plenty of luck in running.

Jockey Jim Byrne has won the jockeys premiership three times in Brisbane, and won two Group One races, the Stradbroke Handicap (Adam), Ascot Vale Stakes (Gold Edition). “Byrne is a very experienced jockey, level headed and knows the course well,” said Davison. “Costa Viva is currently $11 in the Bet365 market. There is plenty of speed from four or five that have also drawn wide and I liked her in the first three before the draws came out. She will need luck.” Note this race will be screened in New Zealand on Trackside TV channel 63 as well as TAB TV channel 62.