Te Akau Matamata Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing on Friday 12 January at Matamata.

As on race morning the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true. 2mls rain forecast race day.

12.30 p.m. R1 5 Bak Da Master (3 g Mastercraftsman - Bak Da Princess) - Michael McNab; lengthened stride very well when closing strongly for third here in the Maiden 1400 metres here on 20 December, with McNab aboard, having been freshened since finishing second on debut to subsequent 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) placed Every Loyal (Sebring). Drawn barrier six in the $10,000 Maiden 1600 metres, he appears a solid each way chance.

1.05 p.m. R2 12 Dazed and Confused (4 m Showcasing - Real Success) - Cameron Lammas; never really let down on Good3 in the Maiden 1400 metres here on 20 December, after finding the line from well back when fifth on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 10 November at Avondale. A trial winner previously on this course, she will be ridden patiently from a wide gate and hopefully the race tempo will enable her to track into the finish.

2.15 p.m. R4 2 Handsome Rebel (2 g Denman - London Rebel) - Michael McNab; trialled well in two outings and kept up a strong gallop for third on debut to winning stable-mate The Real Beel (Savabeel) in the $10,000 Maiden 2YO 1000 metres on 27 December at New Plymouth. Ideally drawn (2) in the $10,000 Maiden 2YO 1100 metres, further improvement would see him right in the fray.

2.15 p.m. R4 7 Dublin Rose (2 f O'Reilly - Irish Dream) - Samantha Collett; produced a good debut second to dual winner and stakes placed Espumoso (Pins) on 18 October in the 2YO 1000 metres at Te Aroha, and following a freshen-up lost a shoe when being collared over the concluding stages to finish third in the 2YO 1200 metres on Waikato Cup Day, 16 December, at Te Rapa. She certainly looks a live chance from barrier five in the $10,000 Maiden 2YO 1100 metres.

4.04 p.m. R7 4 Lady Painton (5 m Tavistock - Lady Verify) - Cameron Lammas; was off the scene for a lengthy period through injury and did a good job to finish sixth when resuming in the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres on 14 December at Hastings, with Lammas aboard. She had the same rider up when winning her Maiden by 15 lengths over 1400 metres in 2015 at Waipa. Tightened in condition for the fresh-up run, expected improvement could see a top four chance from barrier seven in the $12,000 NZB Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres.

4.04 p.m. R7 7 Scarlet Princess (4 m Redwood - Volks Princess) - Michael McNab; circled from the rear for a close fifth when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 30 November at Avondale, and followed suit with a similar effort for fifth in the $12,000 NZB Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres on 27 December at Rotorua. A stylish Maiden winner, she can improve into a dividend bearing position with luck from barrier 13 in the corresponding event over 1400 metres.