Te Akau Matamata Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has 16 horses entered on Wednesday 30 March at Matamata.

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

12:11 p.m. R1 12 Belle of the Ball (3 f Savabeel - Lady Tatia) - Opie Bosson; ran home well for fourth (fastest last 600m: 34.2) when debuting in a Maiden 1200 metres on 16 February at Tauranga, and fought hard for third off a tough trip in a Maiden 1400 metres on 12 March at Pukekohe. Drawn the ace, she rates a top three chance in the $12,000 Maiden 1600 metres.

12:48 p.m. R2 3 Al Malik (2 c Zoustar - Mumtazaah) - Opie Bosson; powered home stylishly to win a trial on 14 March at Ellerslie, and debuts in the $12,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1050 metres - the first of four juvenile runners in the event for the stable. Likely to get back from his wide draw (14), look for him to be finishing strongly.

12:48 p.m. R2 4 Believe It Or Not (2 g Star Witness - Believe You Me) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); produced a big finish to win a trial on 14 March at Ellerslie, and also debuts in the $12,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1050 metres. With weight relief to 55.5kg, and jumping from drawn barrier eight, he may be allowed to find his feet and finish strongly.

12:48 p.m. R2 13 Dignitosa (2 f Xtravagant - Infra Dig) - Sam Weatherley; was caught three wide but galloped home strongly on the bridle to win a trial on 22 March at Cambridge (poly-track), and is another who debuts in the $12,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1050 metres (eligible $8,000 bonus). Likely to get back from her wide draw (12), look for her to be finishing off strongly.

12:48 p.m. R2 14 Zoom (2 f Iffraaj - Ma Belle Ami) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); kept up a very good gallop to prevail in a trial on 22 March at Cambridge (poly-track), and debuts in the $12,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1050 metres (eligible $8,000 bonus). Solid through the trials' stage, she has the gate speed to utilise barrier three.

1:27 p.m. R3 16 Pisco Sour (3 f I Am Invincible - Refreshing) - Opie Bosson; raced well in three starts before a freshen-up and was beaten just by a nose by stable-mate Ragamuffin (Belardo) when resuming in a Maiden 1200 metres on 2 March at Hastings. She rates a top three prospect in the $12,000 Maiden 1200 metres.

2:02 p.m. R4 11 Victoria Roc (3 f Turn Me Loose - Cap Eden Roc) - Opie Bosson; strode clear to win a trial on 1 March at Avondale, and debuts in the $12,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Out of a Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare that impressed winning twice to 1400 metres, she has won all three trials and rates top three contender from the handy barrier two.

2:37 p.m. R5 1 Espionage (3 g Savabeel - Bayrock) - Opie Bosson; was freshened and gelded following two encouraging performances, having run home solidly for fourth when resuming on a Slow9 track in a Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 16 February at Tauranga. Given time (42 days), with blinkers on, he rates top three chance in the $12,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres - one of two in the race for the stable.

2:37 p.m. R5 6 Eridor (3 g Telperion - Fille de France) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); was freshened after two starts and had more to offer at the trials on 14 March at Ellerslie. He easily won a trial here last November and receives the opportunity from barrier five to improve in the $12,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres.

3:12 p.m. R6 2 I'm Not Bossy (3 f Jimmy Choux - Keffiya) - Opie Bosson; resumed with a solid effort for third in a Maiden 1200 metres on 16 February at Tauranga, and posted a good effort from last to finish fourth in a Pearl Series Maiden 1200 metres on 12 March at Pukekohe. Drawn barrier seven in the $12,000 NZB Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres, she rates top three chance.

3:49 p.m. R7 1 Charmander (3 g Shooting to Win - Moment of Choice) - Opie Bosson; ran good 600m times (34.5 and 34.4) for third and fifth respectively, in his first two starts, was freshened, and unleashed a devastating finish to win a Maiden 1200 metres on 4 March at Awapuni. He is up in grade and distance for the $12,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, however a similar performance would be hard to beat - the first of a stable duo in the event.

3:49 p.m. R7 6 Ange De Reve (3 f Belardo - Awakening) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); proved too good when debuting in a Maiden 1100 metres on 19 January and was game after being caught wide on a Slow7 track in a Special Conditions 1200 metres on 12 February, both at Te Rapa. Narrowly beaten in a 3YO 1200 metres on 4 March at Awapuni, she has first three claims in the $12,000 Rating 65 1400 metres.

4:24 p.m. R8 12 Kai (3 f Ocean Park - Brilliant Blush) - Opie Bosson; ran the fastest last 600m (33.8) on the day, dashing into second when resuming in a Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 16 February at Tauranga, and closed strongly for second in a Maiden 1200 metres on 12 March at Pukekohe. Drawn barrier two in the $12,000 Maiden 1400 metres, she receives the chance to break through.

4:59 p.m. R9 2 Ragamuffin (3 g Belardo - Short Tale) - Niranjan Paramar (a3); finished strongly to win a trial on 14 February at Te Rapa, and got his nose down on the line to beat stable-mate Pisco Sour (above) when resuming in a Maiden 1200 metres on 2 March at Hastings. Drawn the ace in the $12,000 Rating 65 1400 metres which features three stable starters, he enjoys weight relief to 56.5kg, and is capable of returning a dividend.

4:59 p.m. R9 7 Sicilian Dream (3 f Dream Ahead - Taormina) - Opie Bosson; finished strongly to win a trial on 14 February at Te Rapa, and debuted with a terrific victory in a Maiden 1215 metres on 3 March at Rotorua. She is ideally drawn (4) to present as a top prospect in the $12,000 Rating 65 1400 metres.

4:59 p.m. R9 8 Midnight Special (4 m Excelebration - Midnight Van Damme) - Michael McNab; recorded a dominant victory in a Maiden 1200 metres on 23 February and finished third to subsequent winner Clever Ruds (El Roca) in a Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 12 March, both at Pukekohe. With a decent trip from tricky barrier 11, she rates a top three chance in the $12,000 Rating 65 1400 metres.