Te Akau Matamata Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 21 horses entered on Friday 23 December at Matamata.

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft7, rail: true. 3mls rain forecast Friday.

12:37 p.m. R1 15 Mehzebeen (3 f Almanzor - Salkantay) - Michael McNab; she finished back in a compact field when trialling on 6 December at Waipa, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1600 metres. From a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare, the stable has experience with her family having trained stakes' winners Te Akau Coup (Thorn Park) and Don Garcia (Danehill), and she has drawn the ace.

1:14 p.m. R2 15 Safura (3 f Almanzor - Corsage) - Michael McNab; she finished fourth on Heavy9 going in the Pearl Series Fillies & Mares 1560 metres on 30 November at Rotorua, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 1600 metres. She ran third when debuting here on a Soft5 track and rates a top three chance on reasonable footing.

1:48 p.m. R3 15 Elegant Lady (3 f Highly Recommended - Lady Masako) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she finished strongly for third in a trial here and most recently fought well after covering extra ground in a trial on 6 December at Waipa. She seems capable of a good showing with any luck from barrier 11, the first of a stable duo contesting this event.

1:48 p.m. R3 22 Leica Star (4 m Highly Recommended - Leica Glory) - Opie Bosson; she has trialled twice in preparation for this in November and December at Avondale and Waipa respectively over 1000m and 1150m. She will be fit to resume here after making the field off the ballot and will have the services of stable rider Opie Bosson as she attempts to negate the tricky gate (10).

2:27 p.m. R4 6 Sternland (4 m Astern - Landslide) - Opie Bosson; she finished a close second in the Pearl Series Fillies & Mares 1560 metres on 30 November at Rotorua, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres. She possesses good course/distance stats, but is another requiring luck from her nightmare draw (17).

3:03 p.m. R5 4 Merlotti (3 g Burgundy - Ruppertsberg) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he finished strongly for third in a trial on 6 December at Waipa, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. From good family, he is destined for further but is ideally drawn (4) to debut well - one of three in the event for the team.

3:03 p.m. R5 5 Needless To Say (3 g No Nay Never - Slippers) - Opie Bosson; he ran on strongly for second in a trial on 6 December at Waipa, and also debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. He requires a good dose of luck from his very wide draw (14).

3:03 p.m. R5 7 Can't Katch Me (3 f Tavistock - Kachina) - Michael McNab; she sustained a strong run for third in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and is another on debut in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. She has been good through the trials' stage, and is bred for further but will be aided by barrier two.

3:40 p.m. R6 2 Came Saw Conquered (3 g Churchill - Diamond Earth) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he was held up in the trail and quickened home to finish on the leaders' heels in a trial on 29 November at Avondale. Debuting in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, he comes from a fast family but requires everything to go his way from his tricky barrier (10) - the first of a stable trio contesting the event.

3:40 p.m. R6 3 Freeze Frame (3 g Vadamos - Snow Petal) - Opie Bosson; he sustained an effort for second in a trial on 6 December at Waipa, was consistently strong through the trials' stage, is another who debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres and finds an ideal starting point on his home track.

3:40 p.m. R6 11 Redsheis (3 f Burgundy - Show No Emotion) - Jake Bayliss; she travelled outside the leader and fought well for third in a trial on 6 December at Waipa. Debuting in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, her Te Akau-trained dam Show No Emotion (Pins) won three times to 1600 metres. She is ideally drawn (2) and should race well if appreciative of the track conditions.

4:14 p.m. R7 3 Bello Mio (3 g Deep Field - Bella Francesca) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he has been given time since a notable debut sixth in the Maiden 1050 metres here on 29 October and resumes in the corresponding event. He sustained a strong run to win a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and has the credentials to suggest a bold showing - one of a Te Akau trained trio lining up in this race.

4:14 p.m. R7 6 Prince Lonhro (3 g Lonhro - Palace Gardens) - Opie Bosson; he drew clear by a margin to win with his ears pricked in a trial on 6 December at Waipa, and also debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1050 metres. The winner of three trials in succession, he has the top rider aboard, and is ideally drawn (4) to rate a top three prospect.

4:14 p.m. R7 12 Russian Rosette (3 f Russian Revolution - Fastnet Rose) - Craig Grylls; she has been solid through her trials, most recently finishing well for third on 29 November at Avondale. Debuting in the $14,000 Maiden 1050 metres, she appears capable of good first-up effort with luck from barrier 11.

4:54 p.m. R8 9 Savoir Faire (3 g Savabeel - Etiquette) - Opie Bosson; he finished fifth in the Eagle Memorial (Listed, 1500m) on 26 November at Te Rapa, after placing three from three to 1600 metres in Maiden grade. Stepping up in the $14,000 Maiden 2000 metres, he rates a top three chance from barrier five.

5:31 p.m. R9 3 Fierce Flight (4 g Flying Artie - First Bloom) - Opie Bosson; he did well for sixth on rain-affected Heavy9 footing when resuming in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 9 December at Tauranga, and contests the $14,000 Rating 65 2000 metres. A strong winner over 2100 metres two starts ago, he brings the right credentials to race competitively.

6:04 p.m. R10 1 Supreme Khan (5 g Mongolian Khan - Angelica Hall) - Yuto Kumagai (a3); he presented in terrific order before winning the Rating 75 1560 metres on 30 November at Rotorua, and remains in the same grade for the $14,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. With weight relief to 59kg, he brings solid form overall to the track and should race well again - one of three lining up for the stable.

6:04 p.m. R10 4 Pin Me Up (4 m Pins - Brampton Loco) - Opie Bosson; she was no chance from the rear, facing tough weather conditions, in the J Swap Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 10 December at Te Rapa, and drops in class for the $14,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. The $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Listed, 1600m) in January, she warrants favouritism and rates a top three chance.

6:04 p.m. R10 6 The Mighty Spar (5 g Savabeel - O'Dianne) - Michael McNab; he missed the start but worked home okay in a trial on 6 December at Waipa, and resumes in the $14,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. He won over 2000 metres here in May, and is likely to get back from wide draw (17), so look for him finishing solidly.

6:45 p.m. R11 7 Avondalay (3 f Redoute's Choice - Miss Maren) - Opie Bosson; she followed two good efforts with victory in the Maiden 1600 metres here in May, and worked home well for fourth in a trial on 6 December at Waipa. Resuming in the $14,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, she seems capable of a bold showing if things can go her way from barrier 14.

7:23 p.m. R12 11 Bubbles Await (3 g Almanzor - Champagne Katie) - Michael McNab; he was unable to quicken on Heavy10 going in trial on 12 December at Avondale, and resumes in the $14,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. He capped good form to easily win the Maiden 1400 metres here in September, the blinkers are on, and he is capable of an improved effort.