Te Akau Matamata Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses entered for the eight-race programme on Friday Jan. 17 at Matamata.

As on Thursday Jan. 16 the conditions were: cloudy and Dead4, rail out 6 metres.

12:53pm R1 6 Cajero (4 g Encosta De Lago - Cashier) - Derek Nolan; came from well back when making ground on debut over 2100 metres at Waipukurau, but never really acted next time out at Rotorua. On his home track, from a handy gate in the Maiden 2000 metres, he can produce an improved performance.

1:28pm R2 9 Merrily (3 f O'Reilly - Mchappy) - Mick Dee (a2); tracked up nicely from six lengths off the pace at the 600 metres when running home strongly for second on Dec. 30 in the Maiden 1200 metres at Taupo. On debut prior, with this rider aboard, she was urged to utilize barrier one and late clear then surged home stylishly for third to Irish Moon (O'Reilly) here on Nov. 21. An increase in distance to 1400 metres appears ideal in a race for apprentice riders only and she is up to breaking through at any tick of the clock.

2:03pm R3 5 Pride and Passion (5 m Encosta De Lago - Calaway Gal) - Mick Dee (a2); was thought to have possibly suffered from getting her tongue over the bit last time out at Tauranga. When resuming off a 154-day break prior, she began smartly, coming from third for a stylish win on Dec. 24 in the Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres at New Plymouth. She has a tongue tie added to her gear and has drawn barrier one in the Benchmark 65 1400 metres for apprentice riders.

3:48pm R6 11 Exabelle (5 m Exceed and Excel - Avabelle) - Kelly Myers; came from last on the home turn and staged a big finish for third in the Benchmark 65 1800 metres at Taupo, and steps up to 2000 metres here. She has raced well previously on her home track and able to frank her last start performance can make prove a threat with a decent trip from barrier ten.

4:58pm R8 16 Seline (3 f Pentire - Dion) - Matt Cameron; wound up stylishly for fourth after receiving a nice run handy to the pace on the rail when debuting on Dec. 27 in the Maiden Fillies and Mares 1400 metres at Rotorua. Suited stepping up to a mile, she has trained on nicely and appears ideally placed to threaten from barrier eight.