Te Akau Counties' Sunday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has 11 horses racing on Sunday 31 January at Pukekohe.

Weather: fine, track: Dead6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

1.25 p.m. R1 1 Burgundy Rose (4 m Burgundy - Paraiba) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); showed customary resolve in all-the-way win on 2 January in the Rating 74 1200 metres at Tauranga, with Kamaruddin aboard, and up two-kilo (57.5kg) she remains in the same grade for the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres. She rates a top three chance from barrier one if appreciative of the course at her first attempt. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

1.25 p.m. R1 3 Summer Monsoon  (6 g Stratum - Princess Narine) - Opie Bosson; freshened on the right note, after winning the Rating 74 1200 metres on NZ Cup Day in November at Riccarton, and galloped home well under his own steam for second when trialling on 12 January at Matamata. Big weight (61.5kg), but should run solidly from barrier two in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

1.25 p.m. R1 5 Aotea Lad  (4 g Savabeel - Corsage) - Masa Hashizume (a2); freshened after finishing second to stable-mate Markus Aurelius (Ghibellines) in the Rating 74 1600 metres on NZ Cup Day in November at Riccarton, and remained held in fifth, without much room, when trialling on 12 January at Matamata.With weight relief to 58.5kg, he is capable of a good first-up effort in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.60.

1.25 p.m. R1 13 Ocean Belle  (4 m Ocean Park - Xanadu) - Danielle Johnson; did a good job winning two from four in her first campaign, and ran home nicely for fourth when trialling on 12 January at Matamata. Nicely weighted (54.5kg), look for her finding the line strongly in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $4.60 & $1.90.

2.00 p.m. R2 3 Remington  (6 g Darci Brahma - Kudamm) - Opie Bosson; was the first of six winners on the day for trainer Jamie Richards, when spearing between runners to win the Open 1400 metres on 14 November Riccarton. He worked home stylishly on heels of the leaders when trialling on 12 January at Matamata, and resumes in the $32,500 Open 1200 metres. Up in the weights (58.5kg), but he should race well. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.40.

2.00 p.m. R2 5 Equinox  (4 g Exceed and Excel - Our Ella Belle) - Danielle Johnson; freshened after finishing second to Remington (above) in the Open 1400 metres at Riccarton, and finished strongly without serious urging to win at the trials on 12 January at Matamata. Resuming in the $32,500 Open 1200 metres, he has the ability to act fresh and should race accordingly. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.90.

2.00 p.m. R2 8 Challa (4 g Dissident - Are There Any) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); did a good job finishing second in the Rating 74 1200 metres on 9 January at Awapuni, and carries light weight (51.5kg) in the $32,500 Open 1200 metres. Kamaruddin was aboard for two consecutive front-running victories, and he continues to race well. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.60.

3.45 p.m. R5 2 Romantic Lady  (4 m Power - Romantic Time) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); continued her genuine form with third to former 3YO Filly of the Year Imelda Mary (Ferlax) in the Open 1400 metres on 2 January at Tauranga. She has weight relief to 57.5kg in the $32,500 Open 1400 metres and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.25.

5.30 p.m. R8 2 Baby Shark (4 g Rip Van Winkle - Bak Da Chief) - Opie Bosson; not far away when finishing solidly fresh-up here in the Maiden 1400 metres on 16 December, and produced a big last to first effort in the Maiden 1600 metres on 7 January at Ruakaka. A brother to dual Group 1 winner Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), he appears capable of measuring up in the $22,500 Rating 65 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

5.30 p.m. R8 4 Radegast  (4 g Savabeel - Marveen) - Opie Bosson; ran a fast last 600m (34.5) getting home for third when resuming in the Maiden 1215 metres on 2 December at Rotorua, and surged late to beat a good field here in the Maiden 1400 metres on 16 December at Pukekohe. Stepping up in the $22,500 Rating 65 1600 metres, he brings the right form to rate a top four chance with luck from barrier 11. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.80.

6.05 p.m. R9 2 Lilikoi  (4 m Charm Spirit - Barbadine) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); proved too strong after positioning perfectly in the Rating 74 1400 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and steps up carrying less weight (55.5kg) in the same grade for the $27,500 Rating 74 1600 metres. Winning the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and third in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) last season, she rates a top four chance. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.80.