Te Akau Matamata Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has 19 horses entered on Wednesday 15 March at Matamata.

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.  

2:06 p.m. R1 9 Devoted (5 g Contributer - Mapmaker) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he made good ground for fourth when second-up in the Rating 60 2040 metres on 23 February at Wanganui, and contests the $14,000 Rating 60 1600 metres. He is preparing for another jumps' campaign. 

2:06 p.m. R1 10 Florencenightngale (4 m Rip Van Winkle - Reigning Dynasty) - Opie Bosson; she ran on for fourth in the Rating 60 1400 metres on 2 March at Rotorua, and also contests the $14,000 Rating 60 1600 metres. She is going okay but requires a lot of luck from her wide draw (14).

2:06 p.m. R1 13 Rip Van Gogh (5 g Rip Van Winkle - On the Move) - Joe Doyle; he resumed with a third in the same race as Florencenightngale (above) on 2 March at Rotorua, and likewise contests the $14,000 Rating 60 1600 metres. He does possess solid course/distance stats, but he too requires luck from the outside gate (16).

2:06 p.m. R1 16 Aquilo (5 g Frankel - Stormy Lucy) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he made good ground for fifth in the same race as Devoted (above) at Wanganui, and is another that contests the $14,000 Rating 60 1600 metres. He ran home well for second off an economical trip in the Rating 60 1600 metres here three starts ago, and should receive soft run from barrier six. 

2:45 p.m. R2 1 Prince Lonhro (3 g Lonhro - Palace Gardens) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); he kept up a strong gallop for a close second in a trial on 7 March at Rotorua, and resumes in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1050 metres. He won three trials in succession before his debut fourth here in December, enjoys weight relief to 55.5kg and is ideally drawn (4) to race well.  

2:45 p.m. R2 6 Petrucci (3 f I Am Invincible - Via Napoli) - Michael McNab; she won stylishly after quickening to seize the advantage mid-straight in a trial on 7 March at Rotorua, and makes her debut in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1050 metres. She rates a top three chance from the handy barrier two. 

2:45 p.m. R2 7 Shanghai Tang (3 f Savabeel - Maxmara) - Opie Bosson; she rounded off nicely for third in a trial on 7 March at Rotorua, and resumes in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1050 metres. She should be finding the line with a decent trip from barrier nine. 

2:45 p.m. R2 9 Francee (3 f Iffraaj - Calveen) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she chased home strongly for second in a trial on 21 February at Avondale, and is another to debut in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1050 metres. Her dam Calveen (Canny Lad) impressed winning Group races over 1600 metres, including the Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m), and has been a good producer. She is positioned and ready to race well first-up. 

3:20 p.m. R3 9 Fiore De Campo (2 f Savabeel - Corsage) - Michael McNab; she finished strongly to win a trial on 21 February at Avondale, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres. She has shown class winning both of her trials to date and she presents as a top three prospect from gate four. 

3:20 p.m. R3 13 The Princie One (2 f Savabeel - The Diamond One) - Opie Bosson; she raced away for an impressive six-length trial win on 21 February at Avondale, and is another juvenile filly on debut in the $14,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres. From a great family, while she is destined for further, she nonetheless rates a top three chance.

3:55 p.m. R4 1 Hero Worship (4 g Xtravagant - Idol) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); he got wide turning in but found the line in the Rating 65 1200 metres here on 25 February, in a race won by stable-mate Skew Wiff (Savabeel), and he contests the $14,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. He is another with good course/distance stats, has weight relief to 57.5kg and looks a top three prospect from barrier five. 

3:55 p.m. R4 2 Accidental Tourist (3 g Telperion - Megara) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he resumed with a strong finish for third in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 3 February at Te Rapa, and ran the fastest last 600m (34.6) for third in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 25 February at Otaki. Stakes' placed, he is capable of a podium finish from barrier three in the $14,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. 

3:55 p.m. R4 5 Madame Moet (5 m Iffraaj - Champagne Katie) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she tailed a small field and ran home okay for fifth when resuming in same race as Hero Worship (above) at Matamata, and also lines up in the $14,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. She requires a whole lot of luck from her outside gate (16). 

3:55 p.m. R4 11 Zantabulous (3 f Almanzor - Zantelagh) - Opie Bosson; she did everything right when winning over 1200 metres on debut here in September, beating very good stakes' winning stable-mate Romancing The Moon (El Roca), and then held her spot behind leaders in a trial on 21 February at Avondale. Resuming in the $14,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, she looks set to make her presence felt from barrier two. 

4:59 p.m. R6 1 Espionage (4 g Savabeel - Bayrock) - Opie Bosson; he ran the fastest last 600m (34.8) getting home for third in the Maiden 1200 metres on 17 February at New Plymouth, won by subsequent winner Unleashed (Shamexpress), and steps up in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres. He brings solid course/distance stats into play, is racing well, and looks a top three proposition but will need a ton of luck from his wide draw (16). 

4:59 p.m. R6 8 Spellcraft (3 g Savabeel - Bewitching) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he produced a notable performance when finding the line strongly for third in the Maiden 1215 metres on 2 March at Rotorua, and steps up in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres. He should race well again but will need things to go his way from the awkward nine gate.

5:34 p.m. R7 5 The Mighty Spar (5 g Savabeel - O'Dianne) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he did well from a rear-ward position for third in the Rating 75 2200 metres on 25 February at Otaki, and contests the $25,000 South Waikato Cup (Rating 86, 2000m). He has performed well here previously, and over the journey, so ecpect a positive showing from gate four.

6:09 p.m. R8 7 Treaty of Paris (3 g Tavistock - Echezeaux) - Joe Doyle; he ran a very close second in the $14,000 Maiden 2000 metres last Wednesday at Taupo, and contests the corresponding event. Improving with each start, he presents as a trifecta chance from barrier one. 

6:44 p.m. R9 13 Can't Kach Me (3 f Tavistock - Kachina) - Opie Bosson; she closed from the rear in the Maiden 1560 metres on 2 March at Rotorua, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 2000 metres. She has the pedigree to appreciate this trip, being out of a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare, but requires a decent trip from barrier nine.