Te Akau Victoria Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Friday 28 March: Warrnambool (Victoria) and Cranbourne (Victoria).

Warrnambool:

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 3.5 metres. No rain forecast.

2:40 p.m. (NZ) ~ 12:40 p.m. (Vic) R2 1 Prismatic (6 g Savabeel – Kaleidoscope) – Steven Pateman; he found the line nicely from beyond midfield in the Benchmark 64 2000 metres on 7 March at Ballarat, and had a quiet 2800m Steeplechase trial here on 20 March. Contesting the A$35,000 Open Hurdle (3200m), he was a course/distance winner last July before spelling. He brings a very good jumps' record to this contest, and shapes to race well as he kicks off a winter campaign with some lofty targets. 

3:20 p.m. (NZ) ~ 1:20 p.m. (Vic) R3 2 Leaderboard (10 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy) – Conor Brassil; he finished back in the Benchmark 74 2400 metres on 26 February at Sandown, and led throughout when winning a 2400m Steeplechase trial on 13 March at Cranbourne. Contesting the Open Steeplechase (3450m), he is also a course/distance winner, ending his previous campaign with a gallant third in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and an equally impressive second in the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m). He is loving this chapter in his career and it preparing for a big winter ahead - one of two contesting the event for the team.

3:20 p.m. (NZ) ~ 1:20 p.m. R3 3 The Mighty Spar (7 g Savabeel – O’Dianne) – Steven Pateman; he finished third in the Stony Creek Cup (2114m) on 9 March at Stony Creek, and was also third in 2400m Steeplechase trial here on 20 March. He too contests the Open Steeplechase (3450m), and as the winner of three jumps' races, including two steeplechases, he has shown himself to be versatile and will certainly make his presence felt.

Cranbourne:

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 9 metres. No rain forecast.

8:45 p.m. (NZ) ~ 6:45 p.m. (Vic) R2 4 Signoretti (2 g Hello Youmzain – I Am Grande) – Michael Dee; he was hemmed up in traffic before finding the line well for fifth when debuting in the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 7 March at Ballarat, and contests the A$40,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres. He looked good in his trials and jump out before racing, his sire is on fire in the Northern Hemisphere, and he is ideally drawn (3) to improve on his debut effort. NZ TAB fixed odds: $9.50 & $2.35.

9:45 p.m. (NZ) ~ 7:45 p.m. (Vic) R4 5 Esternay (3 f All Too Hard – Sezanne) – Michael Dee; she drew the outside gate (12) and did well under those circumstances, from back in the field. She was forced to travel wide, yet still finishing a creditable fourth when resuming in the Maiden 1210 metres on 25 February at Sale, also with Dee aboard. She lines up in the A$40,000 Maiden 1400 metres, and as she hails from the family of Champion mare Champagne (Zabeel), this step up in distance should suit. The challenge will however be he wide alley )11) so she will need luck in the running.  NZ TAB fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.40.