Te Akau Matamata Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has 10 horses entered on Wednesday 2 October at Matamata.  

Matamata: 

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft5, rail: true. Rain forecast after 3 p.m. on Wednesday. 

1:34 p.m. R2 1 Campionessa (7 m Contributer – Bella Carolina) – Ngakau Hailey (a3); she utilized her handy draw (2) to travel three back on the inner and finish strongly for second when resuming in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 21 September at Ellerslie, also with Hailey aboard, and contests the $65,000 Open Handicap 1300 metres. A winner on her home course over 1400 metres, she drawn the ace, enjoys weight relief to 60kg, and rates top three in small field despite this being short of her ideal distance - the first of two lining up for the team. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.45. 

1:34 p.m. R2 5 Wild Night (5 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) – Wiremu Pinn; he was held together while going well for third in a trial on 19 September at Rotorua, and resumes in the $65,000 Open Handicap 1300 metres. Returning after a long injury lay off, this talented boy is the winner of six from 13, including the Group 2 Sarten Memorial over 1400m, is the winner of both starts on his home course to 1400 metres, and is ideally drawn (2) to recapture the form we know he is capable of previously. Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.20. 

2:07 p.m. R3 15 Lightning Dream (4 m Rip Van Winkle – Alana’s Dream) – Wiremu Pinn; she capped good form here on her home track with a strong Maiden win over 1600 metres in April, and sustained a good effort for second when trialling on 19 September at Rotorua. Resuming in the $65,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, she is a half-sister to Bellatrix Star, a recent dual stake's winner for stable in Melbourne, has the ability to act fresh but requires a lot of luck from her wide draw (19). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.10. 

2:42 p.m. R4 6 Unbridled Joy (3 c Snitzel – Joy Forever) – Opie Bosson; he produced a strong performance from sitting outside the leader when second in the Listed Wanganui Guineas 1200m, especially considering the Heavy10 footing, on 31 August at Wanganui, and contests the Group 2 $175,000 Animal Health Direct Hawkes Bay Guineas over 1400m, one of two stable runners in this re-scheduled feature. He is a course winner over 1200 metres and was third to race rival Savaglee  in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper 1200m. He brings the right form to have definite top four claims. Fixed odds: $15.00 & $3.60.

2:42 p.m. R4 10 Captured By Love (3 f Written Tycoon – Moldova) – Warren Kennedy; there second Guineas' runner for the team, she kept closing into second when resuming in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes over 1200m on 7 September at Hastings, and also contests the $175,000 Animal Health Direct Hawkes Bay Guineas. Twice a Group 2 winner, including claiming the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes over 1200m on this track, she was also twice Group One placed last season. While she meets a solid field of boys, she undoubtedly has the ability to show them 'who is boss' from barrier one. Fixed odds: $2.40 & $1.30. 

3:17 p.m. R5 1 Trobriand (4 g Kermadec – Arboreal) – Opie Bosson; he charged away for a fresh-up victory in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 21 August at Taupo, also with Bosson aboard, and contests the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. The Group 2 Eclipse Stakes winner over 1200m as two-year-old, he was very consistent against the best of his age group last season.  He carries 60kg but rates a top three chance despite yet again being dealt a blow by the barrier draw (14) - he really can't turn a trick with draws!  Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.45.

3:17 p.m. R5 6 Zantabulous (5 m Almanzor – Zantelagh) – Wiremu Pinn; the second stable starter in this race, she quickened well on the outside of runners to win a trial on 19 September at Rotorua, and resumes in the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. A dual course winner to 1400 metres, she is destined for further but trialled stylishly, has the ability to act well in a fresh state and (unlike her stablemate above) is ideally drawn (4) to race competitively. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.60. 

3:52 p.m. R6 11 Skew Wiff (5 m Savabeel – Starvoia) – Opie Bosson; she closed strongly for fourth when defending her title in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) on 7 September at Hastings, and contests the re-scheduled $400,000 Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate over the mile. Placed three from three in Group 1 & 2 races over 1600 metres, she was a Group 3 winner at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day last year. A course winner at her only attempt to date, she positions as a top three contender if the champion jockey can navigate her tricky gate (12). Fixed odds: $4.40 & $1.85.

4:27 p.m. R7 6 Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay) – Warren Kennedy; she remained back on heavy ground when resuming in the Open Handicap 1500 metres here on 4 September, has since had exhibition gallop, and contests the $65,000 Open Handicap 2000 metres. She was the runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks as three-year-old, was a dual winner to 2200 metres last season, including claiming the Taupo Cup, carries the minimum weight (54kg), and does possess the ability to prove competitive if she too can overcome her nasty draw (13). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.20.

5:04 p.m. R8 2 What You Wish For (4 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Opie Bosson; he came from last to win impressively when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 21 August at Taupo, and circled from the rear with a big run for second in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 21 September at Ellerslie. Placed two from two on his home course, he is stakes' placed, and looks a top three contender with any luck from his wide draw (15) in the $65,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.45.