Te Akau Avondale Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has 10 horses entered on Wednesday 12 October at Avondale.

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:55 p.m. R3 1 Asperitas (4 g Shooting to Win - Sehaab) - Opie Bosson; he tied up in the ground when resuming on Heavy10 footing in the Rating 60 1200 metres on 21 September at Matamata, and steps up in the $14,000 Maiden 1600 metres. He seeks improvement as he is stepped up in trip.

2:10 p.m. R5 1 Quattro Quinta (4 g Darci Brahma - Quintette) - Jonathan Riddell; he was unable to quicken when resuming in the $14,000 Rating 75 1100 metres on 16 September at Taupo, won by stable-mate and subsequent winner Challa (Dissident), and contests the corresponding event. A stakes' winning two-year-old on debut, and again over 1200 metres last season, he is ideally drawn (3) and receives the chance to improve - the first of five in the event for the stable.

2:10 p.m. R5 4 Pure Imagination (4 g Darci Brahma - Granadilla) - Opie Bosson; he picked up nicely for third in a trial on 27 September at Waipa, and resumes in the $14,000 Rating 75 1100 metres. He looked good winning on debut over 1200 metres and again fresh-up in February, and his form suggests a bold first-up performance.

2:10 p.m. R5 6 Sophisticardo (4 g Burgundy - Glamorous Girl) - Tayla Mitchell (a3); he was unable to quicken when resuming in the same race as Quattro Quinta (above) on 16 September at Taupo, and also contests the $14,000 Rating 75 1100 metres. He won stylishly on debut at his only course attempt, was up to the best of his age at two and three, and will enjoy weight relief to 53kg.

2:10 p.m. R5 8 Pisco Sour (4 m I Am Invincible - Refreshing) - Michael McNab; she capped good form with an impressive victory over 1200 metres in April at Matamata, and immediately won up in grade. Following two trials, she resumes in the $14,000 Rating 75 1100 metres and looks a top three prospect from barrier one.

2:10 p.m. R5 9 Highborn (5 m Savabeel - Tempo Manor) - Craig Grylls; she was doing her best work through the line in a trial on 27 September at Waipa, and likewise resumes in the $14,000 Rating 75 1100 metres. She continued to improve last season, winning twice over 1200 metres, and look for her to be finding the line strongly.

2:49 p.m. R6 5 Our Milly Bee (3 f Merchant Navy - Rina Bettina) - Kelsey Hannan (a3); she made ground for fourth on debut in the Pearl Series Maiden 1200 metres on 21 September at Matamata, with stable-mates Zantabulous (Almanzor) and Romancing The Moon (El Roca) finishing first and second, respectively, and the latter since winning impressively on Saturday. Aided by weight relief to 52kg, she shapes to race well again in the $14,000 Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres.

3:59 p.m. R8 2 Luxembourg (4 g Burgundy - Miss Daphne) - Michael McNab; he found the line, second-up, in the Rating 65 990 metres on 17 September at New Plymouth, and contests the $14,000 Rating 60 1200 metres. A Maiden winner over 1200 metres, he receives the opportunity to improve from the handy barrier two - one of a stable duo joining up in the event.

3:59 p.m. R8 5 Rip Van Gogh (5 g Rip Van Winkle - On the Move) - Opie Bosson; he improved with a third in the Rating 60 1300 metres on 16 September at Taupo, and also contests the $14,000 Rating 60 1200 metres. He looks capable of another good showing if appreciative of the course at his first attempt.

4:34 p.m. R9 6 Time Flies (3 g Time Test - Rorippa) - Opie Bosson; he ended his previous campaign finishing fourth to stable-mate Dynastic (Almanzor) in the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), and resumed again with fourth but to stable-mate Stella Splendida (Zoustar) in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 16 September at Taupo. He rates a top three chance from an ideal draw (2) in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres.