Te Akau Matamata Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has 22 horses entered on Wednesday 11 January at Matamata (twilight meeting).

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy8, rail: out 7 metres. 9mls rain forecast Tuesday, 10mls Wednesday.

3:17 p.m. R2 8 Marvelouz (3 f Almanzor - Miraculous Miss) - Warren Kennedy; she received a nice trip fourth on the outer before finishing a close second in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and steps up in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). She rates a top three chance despite drawing wide (15) and is the first of two in the event for the team. Fixed odds: $2.00 & $1.20.

3:17 p.m. R2 14 Varuni (3 f Darci Brahma - Inniskillen) - Michael McNab; she settled back on the inner throughout when debuting in the Maiden 1300 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and steps up in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). She too has drawn wide (14), but receives the opportunity to improve if appreciative of the conditions. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.00.

3:52 p.m. R3 20 Treaty of Paris (3 g Tavistock - Echezeaux) - Opie Bosson; he was unable to quicken off an economical trip in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 2 January at Tauranga, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 1600 metres. He placed on heavy footing in his trial and is looking for improvement here over the mile. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.45.

4:27 p.m. R4 2 Merlotti (3 g Burgundy - Ruppertsberg) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he raced wide when debuting on a Soft7 track in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres here on 23 December, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. There is evidence among his siblings of handling rain-affected ground which could work to his advantage. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $3.50.

4:27 p.m. R4 3 Primo Vino (3 g Savabeel - Vinorules) - Opie Bosson; he was doing his best work through the line from well back when debuting in the Maiden 1300 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and also contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. He harks from a talented family, but will need to cope with the track conditions. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.30.

4:27 p.m. R4 9 Royalz (3 f Almanzor - Lady Royale) - Warren Kennedy; she raced three wide on the pace and fought hard for a close second in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on Boxing Day at Otaki, and likewise contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. She has drawn handily in barrier five and rates a top three chance if she too appreciates the conditions. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.50.

4:27 p.m. R4 14 Too Classy (3 f Puccini - Classy Choice) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she pushed up in midfield before finishing eighth on debut in the Maiden 1300 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and is another contesting the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. She made inroads when trialling prior and have shown some pointers to handling give in the ground. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.20.

4:27 p.m. R4 15 Richard Stomper (3 g El Roca - Optimiser) - Jake Bayliss; he remained back when debuting in the Maiden 1300 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. He has previously responded well for a close second on Heavy10 going in a trial on 12 December at Avondale, which aids his prospects of improvement. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.80.

4:27 p.m. R4 17 Paixiano (3 g Darci Brahma - Paixanito) - Joe Doyle; he drifted back and remained rearward when debuting in the Maiden 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and steps up in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. Much will depend on his handling the footing. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $4.00.

5:02 p.m. R5 4 Ready to Drink (4 g Burgundy - Corsage) - Opie Bosson; he closed well for third in the Maiden 1300 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres. He is going well and rates a top three contender if he handles the rain-affected heavy footing. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75.

5:02 p.m. R5 7 Needless To Say (3 g No Nay Never - Slippers) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he ran home from rear for fifth on soft ground when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres here on 23 December, and steps up in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres. Drawn barrier 10, much depends on his ability to handle the prevalent conditions. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.60.

5:02 p.m. R5 14 Our Milly Bee (3 f Merchant Navy - Rina Bettina) - Michael McNab; she circled from second last with a strong finish for fourth in the Maiden 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and steps up in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres. She shows genuine attributes and has acted on rain-affected going previously. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.90.

5:34 p.m. R6 1 Al Malik (3 g Zoustar - Mumtazaah) - Michael McNab; he produced a strong finish for second on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 14 December at Ruakaka, and was in the mix throughout for a close third in the Maiden 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua. Ideally drawn (2), he rates a top three prospect in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Fixed odds: $2.70 & $1.10.

5:34 p.m. R6 2 Freeze Frame (3 g Vadamos - Snow Petal) - Opie Bosson; he ran home in the fastest last 600m (35.1) on the day for a debut second in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres here on 23 December, given soft footing, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. He finished second in a trial on Heavy10 and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.10.

5:34 p.m. R6 7 Zakaya (3 f Reliable Man - Zarzing) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she was unable to cope with the downgraded Heavy9 footing in the Maiden 3YO 1600 metres at Tauranga, and here, drops back in distance for the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Much depends on his handling of the track conditions. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.20.

5:34 p.m. R6 13 Puzzle Solved (3 f Rubick - Sandownboulevard) - Jake Bayliss; she remained back when debuting in the Maiden 1100 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. She seeks improvement if she too can cope with the conditions. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $2.10.

6:09 p.m. R7 5 I Choose You (3 f I Am Invincible - Choose) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she was freshened following a notable third in the Barneswood Farm Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 15 October at Ashburton, and was held together midfield in a trial here on 23 December. Resuming in the $14,000 Rating 65 1050 metres, she has been stakes' placed three times and has the ability to feature in the top three if she too can handle the track conditions. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.20.

6:09 p.m. R7 6 Bello Mio (3 g Deep Field - Bella Francesca) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he streaked clear to win the Maiden 1050 metres on 23 December at Matamata, and steps up in the $14,000 Rating 65 1050 metres. Posting that last start course/distance win on slow ground should enable another bold showing. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.25.

6:09 p.m. R7 7 Grace ‘N' Grey (3 f Spirit of Boom - Gracious Grey) - Opie Bosson; she performed well at two and was runner-up when resuming in the 3YO 1000 metres on 3 September at Riccarton. She remained on the bridle finishing a close third in a trial on 12 December at Avondale, and resumes in the $14,000 Rating 65 1050 metres. She has shown to act on yielding ground and rates a top three prospect. Fixed odds: $2.20 & $1.15.

6:09 p.m. R7 8 Miss Dunsford (3 f Dissident - She Chose Me) - Michael McNab; she is a newcomer to the stable that last raced over 1400 metres on 16 November at Sandown, Melbourne, finishing third. She won her Maiden over 1200 metres on good ground at Pakenham, and makes her NZ debut in the $14,000 Rating 65 1050 metres. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $1.85.

6:45 p.m. R8 11 Rightly So (3 f El Roca - So It Begins) - Michael McNab; she produced a notable debut effort for second to impressive winning stable-mate Puketiro (Savabeel) in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 1050 metres. She has drawn nicely at barrier two, plus has a bit in her pedigree to suggest she might handle conditions. Fixed odds: $2.20 & $1.20.

6:45 p.m. R8 14 Beluga Caviar (3 f Belardo - Los Vargas) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she fought on for fifth in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1050 metres. She requires luck however from her wide gate (13) which makes the first time to the races more challenging. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $3.80.