Te Akau Matamata Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has 20 horses entered on Wednesday 21 September at Matamata.

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy8, rail: out 10 metres. 8mls rain forecast Tuesday, 15mls Wednesday.

1:05 p.m. R2 3 Kai (4 m Ocean Park - Brilliant Blush) - Opie Bosson; she was unlucky not to win last season, registering five seconds in six starts, and resumed without a trial for second in the Maiden 1050 metres here on 28 August. The race was won by Pier (Proisir), subsequent runner-up to Te Akau trained Dynastic (Alamanzor) in the El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m). She rates a top three chance in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres which features four stable starters.

1:05 p.m. R2 8 Elounda (4 m Contributer - Nomisma) - Craig Grylls; she has shown ability in two trials and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Her dam Nomisma (Thorn Park) won four times to 1600 metres and hers is a family that has shown the capability of handling give in the ground.

1:05 p.m. R2 12 Roc Anthem (3 g El Roca - Anthology) - Sam Weatherley; he kept lifting in a home stretch duel with stable-mate Zakaya to win a trial (Heavy10) on 6 September at Tauranga, and also make his debut in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Continuing to improve, his grand-dam Imananabaa (Anabaa) won the Railway Handicap (Gr. 1, 1200m), and he shapes to race well from barrier one.

1:05 p.m. R2 15 Savoir Faire (3 g Savabeel - Etiquette) - Michael McNab; he fought well for fourth on heavy ground in a trial on 6 September at Tauranga, and is another to debut in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. A strong trial winner at two, his dam is the sister to quadruple Group One winner and sire Sacred Falls (O'Reilly), and while he seems destined for further, he appears capable of a bold showing.

1:40 p.m. R3 5 Wild Night (3 g Vanbrugh - Supreme) - Opie Bosson; he made up plenty from last when finishing sixth on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 27 August at Te Rapa, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. A half-brother to Play That Song (Showcasing), Group Two winner and Karaka Million 2YO runner-up, he rates a top three prospect from barrier two - one of a tangerine trio contrasting the third race on the programme.

1:40 p.m. R3 9 Caravella (3 f Caravaggio - Highland Lights) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she debuted with a solid fifth in the Maiden 970 metres on 17 August at Cambridge (poly-track), has been given time (35 days), and contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. She was good through the trials' stage and should race well if appreciative of the track conditions.

1:40 p.m. R3 11 Family Ties (3 f Contributer - Glamazon) - Michael McNab; she ran home strongly late for third in a trial (Heavy10) on 6 September at Tauranga, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. She is another who showed ability through the trials' stage, is from a very good family, and shapes to race well from barrier seven.

2:15 p.m. R4 3 Believe It Or Not (3 g Star Witness - Believe You Me) - Opie Bosson; he was untested when denied racing room at a vital stage in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 7 September and contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Although likely to appreciate better footing, he has shown the ability to handle heavy going and rates a top three chance - the first of three contesting the event for Te Akau.

2:15 p.m. R4 6 Baronet (3 g Contributer - Alpha Dame) - Craig Grylls; debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres after sustaining a strong gallop for second in a trial (Heavy10) on 6 September at Tauranga. He is from a hardy family and should race well fresh-up.

2:15 p.m. R4 13 Princess Jasmine (3 f Satono Aladdin - She's Insatiable) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she ran on strongly for second in a trial (Heavy10) on 6 September at Tauranga, and also makes her debut in $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres where much depends on whether she will handles this going.

2:50 p.m. R5 6 Romancing The Moon (3 f El Roca - Underthemoonlight) - Craig Grylls; she won both trials before finishing fourth on debut in the 3YO Fillies 1100 metres on 24 August at Taupo, and was a very game second in The O'Learys Fillies Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on 3 September at Wanganui. Her dam Underthemoonlight (El Hermano) impressed winning on slow and heavy ground, and she rates top three proposition in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 mares (eligible for bonus) - another event with three taking their place for the stable.

2:50 p.m. R5 11 Zantabulous (3 f Almanzor - Zantelagh) - Michael McNab; she let down strongly to win a trial (Heavy10) on 6 September at Tauranga, and debuts in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 mares (eligible for bonus). A beautiful grey filly, from a mare that won three times to 1800 metres in Australia, she is positioned to race well fresh-up if she is appreciative of the track conditions.

2:50 p.m. R5 18 Our Milly Bee (3 f Merchant Navy - Rina Bettina) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she ran home solidly between runners for third in a trial (Heavy10) on 6 September at Tauranga, and debuts in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 mares (eligible for bonus). She is by the fast son of Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill) - Merchant Navy was a triple Group One winner over 1200 metres (twice in Aust., and Royal Ascot) in a career of seven wins from 10 starts, while she boasts plenty of quality on dam-side.

3:29 p.m. R6 7 Espionage (4 g Savabeel - Bayrock) - Opie Bosson; he came from second last with a strong finish for second to stable-mate Hero Worship (Xtravagant) when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 7 September and contests the $14,000 Rating 60 1200 metres. He possesses the race day experience and he rates a top three chance in a race where the stable has a four-pronged attack.

3:29 p.m. R6 8 Asperitas (4 g Shooting to Win - Sehaab) - Michael McNab; he was freshened and has trialled since working home for fifth in the Maiden 1400 metres on 26 June at Rotorua, and contests the $14,000 Rating 60 1200 metres. He finished a close second off a wide trip in the Maiden 1200 metres on 8 June at Matamata, given Heavy10 footing, and rates a top three prospect from barrier three.

3:29 p.m. R6 11 Ifyourample (4 m Iffraaj - More than Adequate) - Sam Weatherley; she had no luck when resuming in the Pearl Series Maiden 1200 metres on 13 May, won by stable-mate Hayate (Maurice), and was a notable fourth (same race as Asperitas, above) in the Maiden 1200 metres on 8 June, both at Matamata. She ran home strongly to photo-finish for third in a trial on 13 September at Cambridge (poly-track), and should race well in the $14,000 Rating 60 1200 metres.

3:29 p.m. R6 13 She's Outrageous (4 m Reliable Man - She's Insatiable) - Tayla Mitchell (a3); she ran home solidly for third in a trial on 13 September at Cambridge (poly-track), and debuts in the $14,000 Rating 60 1200 metres. A half-sister to Princess Jasmine (above), she will have weight relief down to 51kg, but much depends on her handling of the footing.

4:04 p.m. R7 1 Prismatic (4 g Savabeel - Kaleidoscope) - Opie Bosson; he had a solid three-year-old campaign and resumed running the fastest last 600m (37.0) on day for second in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 7 September. While you would prefer to see him on better footing, he nonetheless rates a top three option in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres - he first of a stable duo in this.

4:04 p.m. R7 12 Bubbles Await (3 g Almanzor - Champagne Katie) - Michael McNab; he came from clear last for fifth to stable-mate Stonybreck (Tavistock) when debuting in the Maiden 970 metres on 3 August at Cambridge (poly-track), and was a close fifth in same race as Wild Night (above) in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 27 August at Te Rapa. He has first four claims despite his wide gate in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres, the only question will be whether he handles the going.

4:39 p.m. R8 9 Trieste (4 m Tivaci - Domani Oro) - Opie Bosson; she made a mid-race move to lead before finishing fourth in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres here on 7 September and contests the $14,000 Maiden 1600 metres. She is another you would prefer to see on better footing and with a better draw, but nevertheless she still has the ability too potty a first three finish.