Lightly raced Kiwi star Te Akau Shark is a solid short priced favourite for his Australian debut in toady’s Group 2 $200,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Kolding, above, is set to take on the Kiwi Te Akau Shark, in the 2019 Tramway Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au early in the week had Te Akau Shark on offer at $2.80 and he has firmed in slightly to be at the top of the betting on race morning at $2.70.
Te Akau Shark is the winner of five of his seven race starts in New Zealand and Matamata trainer Jamie Richards is expecting a bold showing after his first up second to Endless Drama in the Group 2 NZ$100,000 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa in New Zealand on August 17.
“He has travelled over in good order and he’s worked up well. We are here to do our best,” Richards said on the Te Akau Racing website.
“He’s doing well in himself, is bright and happy and his coat has come on since he has been here.”
Te Akau Sahrk has drawn barrier ten in the Tramway Stakes field that has been reduced to thirteen runner with the scratching of the Chris Waller trained Tom Melbourne, but Sydney’s premiership winning jockey, Kiwi James McDonald, is certain to find the best way around Randwick.
McDonald got a feel of Te Akau Shark in trackwork on Tuesday morning and was very pleased with what he felt underneath him.
“He’s a pretty casual character. He floated around the course proper, really,” McDonald said.
“I couldn’t fault him at this stage.”
“He’s a pretty professional sort of horse. He swapped and changed legs very easily and was very balanced around the bends so I can’t see it being an issue.”
The nearest rival in the Tramway Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is the John Thompson trained Dreamforce who has firmed in from $6.50 to be $4.80 on race morning ahead of the Waller trained Eckstein and Kolding at $8.
Betting for the 2019 Tramway Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.70 Te Akau Shark, $4.80 Dreamforce , $8 Eckstein, Kolding, $9.50 Invincible Gem, $11 Penske, $15 Star Of The Seas, $26 Achedemus, $31 Mister Sea Wolf, $41 Life Less Ordinary, Kaonic, $67 Mantastic, $91 Le Juge.
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