Te Akau Matamata Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Wednesday 4 September at Matamata.  

Matamata:

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy10, rail: out 6 metres. Showers forecast. 

12:34 p.m. R2 1 Aotea Lad (8 g Savabeel – Corsage) – Jess Allen (a2); one the the stable's elder statesmen, he remained rear-ward under the top weight (60.5kg) in the Rating 75 1500 metres on 24 August at Te Rapa, and contests the $18,500 Rating 75 2000 metres. He finished second in a hurdle trial on 29 August at Cambridge, and is gearing up to debut over the jumps. Our apprentice aboard brings weight relief to 61.5kg, he has placed in both his course attempts to date, and is a horse that is always genuine. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.90.  

1:06 p.m. R3 6 Court Of Appeal (4 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel) – Jess Allen (a2); she found the line in good fashion for fourth when trialling on 6 August at Te Rapa, and resumes in the $18,500 Maiden 1200 metres. Placed three times to 2000 metres in first campaign, she hails from a staying type family, has weight relief to 54.5kg, and has an ideal fresh-up outing on home track. Fixed odds: $11.00 & $3.50. 

2:14 p.m. R5 2 Malborough Bay (5 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin) – Jess Allen (a2); he has been given time to freshen (74 days) since dominantly winning the Rating 75 1400 metres in June at Tauranga, also with Allen aboard, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. One of two stalemates in the race, he has recorded three of his four wins over 1400 metres, and while he may find couple a bit sharper in this field, he does drop to 57kg with the apprentice aboard, handles give in the track, and loves his home course. Fixed odds: $8.00 & $2.60. 

2:14 p.m. R5 5 Baronet (5 g Contributer – Alpha Dame) – Opie Bosson; he sustained a big run for third in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 21 August at Taupo, which was won impressively by stable-mate Trobriand, and contests the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. All three of his career wins have come on heavy ground and over 1200 metres, including here on debut. He is a recent dual winner and has first four claims in a strong field. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $2.90. 

4:04 p.m. R8 7 Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay) – Darren Danis; she finished well near the rail for third in a trial on 21 August at Taupo, and resumes in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1500 metres. Second in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks over 2400m as three-year-old, she was a dual winner to 2200 metres last season, including victory in the Taupo Cup, and this is an ideal fresh-up outing on 'home soil' as she kicks off her new campaign. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $3.60. 

4:39 p.m. R9 7 My Lips Are Sealed (4 m Ace High – Tellmeaboutit) – Opie Bosson; she remained back when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 21 August at Taupo, won impressively by stable-mate What You Wish For, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. She has been a winner on heavy ground previously, was runner up in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes over the mile last season, and here finds the opportunity to bounce back from barrier four. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75.