Te Akau Matamata Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing on Wednesday 3 May at Matamata.

As on Tuesday 2 May the conditions were: fine and Slow9, rail true. No rain forecast.

11.38 p.m. R2 2 Griffin (2 g Iffraaj - Double Elle) - Michael McNab; makes his debut from barrier four in the $10,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres. Has trialled well on each of three occasions this time in, including a win off the front over 800 metres at Avondale. He is a brother to leading Champion three-year-old contender and stable-mate Gingernuts, who recently accumulated over one-million dollars in prize money following wins in the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m), and fifth in the Australian Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m). Although destined to excel over more ground, he has shown enough natural precocity to prove competitive.

11.38 p.m. R2 3 Pacific Coast (2 c Snitzel - Malibu Road) - Opie Bosson; makes his debut from barrier seven in the $10,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres. He sustained a big effort after being caught when trialling last Monday at Taupo, having won his first trial in stylish manner off the front in March at Rotorua. By the leading sire in Australia, including 28 individual two-year-old winners this season, he has all the right attributes to begin his career with a bold performance.

12.08 p.m. R3 13 Lucy Wyldstyle (3 f Savabeel - Legs) - Opie Bosson; trialled here in February and March and following one race day outing last December she resumes off 153 days in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Drawn out a touch (11), she shapes as a filly to keep improving over more distance, being a grand-daughter of New Zealand Oaks winner Legs (Gr. 1, 2400m) who in turn is the dam of Te Akau trained gallopers Wolfwhistle (O'Reilly) and Scrutinize (Savabeel).

1.16 p.m. R5 18 Zedman (4 g Zed - Sazerac) - rider to be advised; has a couple of trials under his belt and having his first start for the stable, off a long spell, he requires two further defections in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres for colts and geldings to make the field.

1.55 p.m. R6 11 Savvy Lady (3 f Savabeel - Modern Lady) - Cameron Lammas; continued to make ground near the rail when trialling here over 1000 metres in March, and following two previous starts she resumes off 140 days in the $10,000 Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres. With the pedigree to go further, from the family of City of Auckland Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Zarius (Zabeel), trained by Mark Walker, she has a tongue tie on and capable of an improved performance from barrier four.

2.28 p.m. R7 3 Stolen Love (3 f Savabeel - Steal) - Michael McNab; found the Heavy11 footing beyond her when resuming on 12 April in the NZB Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1230 metres at Rotorua, and while the ground is rain-affected she should appreciate the better going on offer in the $10,000 Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres. Prior to resuming, she sustained a strong finish for Te Akau apprentice Jasmine Fawcett to win a 1000-metre trial here in March, and can only improve on her first up outing.

2.28 p.m. R7 10 O'Know (4 m O'Reilly - Know All) - Opie Bosson; was another that found the Heavy11 going beyond her when resuming on 12 April in the Maiden 1230 metres at Rotorua, and drawn to receive all favours from barrier one in the $10,000 Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres. She too can only improve on her first up outing.