Te Akau Hastings Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Wednesday 8 December at Hastings (twilight meeting).

Weather: cloudy, track: Dead5, rail: out 4 metres. Showers forecast.

3.17 p.m. R2 1 Badgeringdawitness (4 g Reliable Man - Ebony and Ivory) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); registered a fourth and fifth in two starts to 1300 metres, spelled, and was held together while getting home for third at the trials on 23 November at Cambridge (poly-track). Resuming in the $12,000 Maiden 1200 metres, his dam Ebony and Ivory (Zabeel), impressed winning over a mile and has now left five individual winners of 14 races, seen at their best around 2000 metres, including year older sister and recent winner She's A Maneater. One of two in the race for the stable. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.

3.17 p.m. R2 15 Savasilk  (3 f Savabeel - Silk Pins) - Michael McNab; freshened since a notable fourth to stable-mate and subsequent winner Image of You (Pins) ina  Maiden 1300 metres on 6 October at Taupo. She quickened into third at the trials 23 November at Cambridge (poly-track) and also contests the $12,000 Maiden 1200 metres with blinkers on. From a Pins (Snippets) mare that finished second in Karaka Million 2YO, was Group 1 placed, and was Second Top Filly in the NZ 2YO Free Handicaps, she rates a top three prospect from barrier two. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.70.

3.52 p.m. R3 8 Tuahine  (3 f Iffraaj - Talaria) - Danielle Johnson; worked home unpressured for second at the trials on 23 November at Cambridge (poly-track), and debuts in the $12,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 3YO Fillies 1200 metres (eligible $11,500 bonus). First foal out of the debut stakes' winner Talaria (O'Reilly), sister to Group 1 winning stallion Brutal, she is from the very good colonial bred Alberton family. She rates a top three chance from barrier seven. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.40.

5.02 p.m. R5 4 Excitonic  (5 g Savabeel - Bint Piavonic) - Danielle Johnson; gave Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar his first win when delivering fresh-up in a Rating 65 1200 metres on 25 October at Te Rapa, and was a solid fourth in a Rating 74 1200 metres on 16 November at Rotorua. Fourth in both course attempts, he has first three claims in the $12,000 Rating 74 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $3.50 & $1.30.

6.44 p.m. R8 10 Midnight Special  (4 m Excelebration - Midnight Van Damme) - Michael McNab; ran very well for second on debut in Maiden 1200 metres on 29 October at Hawera, and clocked the fastest last 600m (34.2) on the day when third in a corresponding event on 24 November at Tauranga. She rates a top three chance in the $12,000 Maiden 1400 metres from barrier six. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.40.