Te Akau Ellerslie Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Sunday 30 January at Ellerslie.

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: out 12 metres. No rain forecast.

12.30 p.m. R1 2 Brando  (4 g Savabeel - Saoirse) - Opie Bosson; resumed this season by winning an Open 1200 metres at Te Rapa, and appeared in good order for a fresh-up assignment during an exhibition gallop on 19 January at Te Rapa. A stakes' winner and Group 1 placed at three, he rates a top three chance in the $55,000 Open 1400 metres.

1:40 p.m. R3 3 Navalha  (3 g Sebring - Afiado) - Opie Bosson; made it two from two over 1200 metres at a similar time last year, ran home strongly for third when trialling on 11 January at Cambridge (poly-track), and resumes in the $45,000 Rating 74 1100 metres. He has shown to act in a fresh state and is a top three prospect from barrier one.

2:50 p.m. R5 4 Campionessa  (4 m Contributer - Bella Carolina) - Opie Bosson; tried valiantly off a wide gate (14) for fifth to subsequent Anniversary Handicap (Gr. 3, 1600m) winner Bankers Choice (Mongolian Khan) in the Stella Artois Championship Final (Special Conditions, 1500m) here on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, and easily won a Rating 74 1600 metres on 19 January at Te Rapa. Here in the same grade and distance, she goes up two-kilos to carry 57kg, and rates a top three chance despite drawing the outside (11).

4:00 p.m. R7 2 Shezathinka  (6 m So You Think - Headsup) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); produced a solid third when resuming in a Rating 74 1400 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and did the same again finishing second to stable-mate Campionessa (above) in a Rating 74 1600 metres on 19 January at Te Rapa. Placed here in two attempts, she has been a five-length winner over 2200 metres, has weight relief to 56.5kgs, and has first four claims in the $45,000 Rating 74 2100 metres.

5:49 p.m. R10 1 Flat Track Bully  (4 g Reliable Man - Lime Squeeze) - Opie Bosson; finished well for second in a Maiden 1200 metres on 10 December at Tauranga, but remained back after beginning awkwardly in a Maiden 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua. Given time (33 days), he appears capable of an improved effort from barrier four in the $15,000 Maiden 1200 metres - one of two in the event for the stable.

5:49 p.m. R10 5 Midnight Special  (4 m Excelebration - Midnight Van Damme) - Michael McNab; never relaxed in a Maiden 1200 metres on 12 January at Matamata, and contests a corresponding event. Unfortunately she is awkwardly drawn (8), but is capable of improvement if she settles.

6:24 p.m. R11 1 Deceptive  (4 g Iffraaj - Elusive Catch) - Opie Bosson; was held together finishing second at the trials on 11 January at Cambridge (poly-track), and debuts in the $15,000 Maiden 1200 metres. He is by the internationally proven sire Iffraaj (Zafonic), out of the Elusive City (Elusive Quality) mare Elusive Catch, a winner four times to 1400 metres. he has been solid through the trials' stage with a win and three seconds, and should go well - the first of a stable duo contesting this event.

6:24 p.m. R11 10 A Little Bit Bossy (3 f Rock ‘n' Pop - Molly Coco) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); quickened strongly for second at the trials on 11 January at Cambridge (poly-track), and debuts in the $15,000 Maiden 1200 metres. She is ideally drawn (5), has weight relief to 52kg, and has also been solid through her trials' stage.