Te Akau Hastings Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Wednesday 3 March at Hastings.

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. No rain forecast.

2.37 p.m. R3 4 Boutonniere  (3 g Burgundy - Bouquet) - Michael McNab; worked forward outside the leader when finishing eighth to stable-mate Seajetz (Iffraaj) in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 17 February at Te Aroha. His prior two efforts were solid and ideally drawn (3) to show improvement in the $22,500 Rating 65 1600 metres.

2.37 p.m. R3 8 Lucky Shark  (4 g Darci Brahma - Shamardal Luck) - Danielle Johnson; continued solid form finishing fourth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 17 February at Te Aroha, and steps up in the $22,500 Rating 65 1600 metres. Fourth at his only course attempt, he has shown enough to have top three prospects from barrier five.

3.49 p.m. R5 8 Romantic Lady (4 m Power - Romantic Time) - Samantha Collett; has been given time (31 days) after closing strongly from last to finish third in the Open 1400 metres on 31 January at Pukekohe. She was held together when trialling on 16 February at Cambridge, and contests the $32,500 Open 1400 metres. Very genuine, winning four times, four seconds, and three thirds, from 13 starts, she rates an each way chance from barrier three in a strong field.

4.24 p.m. R6 1 Burgundy Rose (4 m Burgundy - Paraiba) - Joe Kamaruddin (a3); was denied room when required in the straight, finishing fourth to impressive winning stable-mate Festivity (I Am Invincible) in the Rating 74 1200 metres on 13 February at Te Rapa. Claiming to 58.5kg in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres, she rates a top three chance if appreciative of the course at her first attempt.

4.24 p.m. R6 9 Ocean Belle  (4 m Ocean Park - Xanadu) - Danielle Johnson; did a good job winning two from four in her first campaign, and following two preparatory trials she resumes in the $27,500 Rating 74 1200 metres. Nicely weighted (54.5kg), expect her to seek cover and be finding the line strongly.

5.34 p.m. R8 11 Scottish Star  (5 m Bullbars - Highland Lights) - Craig Grylls; wound up late into fourth to stable-mate Seajetz (Iffraaj) in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 17 February at Te Aroha, and steps up in the $10,000 Rating 65 2100 metres. Racing well, being a half-sister to former stable-mate Our Abbadean (Lookin At Lucky), a dual Group Two winner and twice Group One placed, aids her prospects of appreciating the trip.