Te Akau Matamata Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing on Saturday 25 February at Matamata.

As on Friday 24 February the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true. No rain forecast.

2.02 p.m. R4 2 Summer Monsoon (2 c Stratum - Princess Narine) - Opie Bosson; followed his debut second to stable-mate and subsequent $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) winner Melody Belle (Commands) with a win next time out, each time utilizing his pace out of the gates. Following a break he finished sixth to race rival Aim Smart (Smart Missile) at Pukekohe, and was held together after leading for a close second when trialling here on 7 February. From barrier one, he has blinkers and a tongue tie on in the $50,000 Matamata Slipper (Listed, 1200m). Te Akau has a very good record in the race, winning it last year with Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) and successful in four of the past ten years including with Darci Brahma (Danehill). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $2.55.

3.16 p.m. R6 1 Gold Fever (2 f Savabeel - Gold Rocks) - Opie Bosson; presented in terrific condition - 41 days between races - for a smart win in the Race A Horse with Te Akau 1200 metres on 11 February at Te Rapa. At her previous start, she finished a close third in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, with the winner Hasahalo (Savabeel) going on for second to Melody Belle (Commands) in the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m). She brings good form to the $100,000 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m), with two wins and two thirds from four starts, and has the right attributes to prove competitive from barrier seven in what is always a great race. Stable-mate Sassy ‘N' Smart (Smart Missile) missed by only a nose last year when beaten by Gold Fever's half sister.  With numerous victories in the race, Gold Fever gives Te Akau another strong hope. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.70.

3.51 p.m. R7 7 Smashing (5 m Pins - Ruud Van Slaats) - Cameron Lammas; freshened since a close second in the Rating 85 1200 metres on 7 January at Trentham, she comes in off 49 days from barrier two in the $40,000 Open 1200 metres. Carrying the same weight (53kgs) that saw her place in the Lightning Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Trentham, three starts ago, she is a talented mare having her first start on the home track. Fixed odds: $5.20 & $1.65.

4.26 p.m. R8 7 Hushed (5 g Don Eduardo - Danewhisper) - Michael McNab; was scratched last Saturday from racing on Slow8 footing in the Avondale Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) at Ellerslie, and contests the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) after taking a massive step when winning the Hamilton Cup over 2000 metres on 4 February at Te Rapa. Advancing from Maiden status to this level in the space of nine starts - rendering six wins - is quite a remarkable achievement and much will depend on securing a good trip from a wide barrier. Fixed odds: $6.20 & $2.30.

5.01 p.m. R9 2 Imperium (5 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal) - Opie Bosson; had his quickening powers negated on Slow8 footing and along with those around him was unable to make ground from the rear in a leader dominated Avondale Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) last Saturday at Ellerslie. Back in grade for the $25,000 Rating 75 2000 metres, he receives an ideal opportunity on much better footing to keep himself in line for a tilt at the $500,000 Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) on 11 March at Ellerslie.

5.01 p.m. R9 6 Our Abbadean (4 m Lookin at Lucky - Highland Lights) - Michael McNab; was scratched from the Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 1800 metres) because of Slow8 track conditions last Saturday at New Plymouth, and after finding the line for fourth in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 4 February at Te Rapa, running her final 600m in 33.6, she steps up in distance for the $25,000 Rating 75 2000 metres. A very good Maiden winner here on the home course, she brings the right
form to prove competitive in this field.

She is also an acceptor in Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) at 4.26 p.m. R8 17.