Te Akau Matamata Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses racing on Saturday 29 December at Matamata.

As on Friday 28 December the conditions were: fine and Dead6, rail out 6 metres. No rain Friday, 2mls forecast Saturday.

12.55 p.m. R2 7 You're Welcome (3 g Camelot - Chorus of Angels) - Opie Bosson; won with plenty in hand when trialling over 1000 metres on 11 December at Te Aroha, with Bosson aboard, and debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. From the first Australian bred crop of a Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in Europe and Great Britain, Camelot (Montjeu), he is bred to get over ground - holds a NZ Derby nomination - but uses himself well and appears a major contender here.

1.30 p.m. R3 5 Sizzler (2 f Sizzling - O'Raghailligh) - Shafiq Rusof; debuted on 27 October with a notable performance for fourth to subsequent stakes winner Bavella (Snitzel) over 880 metres at Ellerslie, and finished strongly to grab third when trialling on 17 December at Waipa. She shapes as a leading chance in the $10,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres.

2.05 p.m. R4 8 Together (4 m Ocean Park - More to Love) - Opie Bosson; followed a strong finishing fresh-up third, running her final 600m in a very competitive 34.7, at New Plymouth, and showed signs of plenty more to come when winning the Maiden 1300 metres on 12 December at Hastings. Drawn barrier six in the $22,500 Rating 65 1400 metres, she brings the right form to threaten immediately in the next grade.

2.40 p.m. R5 8 Burgundy Belle (3 f Burgundy - Spin ‘N Grin) - Shafiq Rusof; had no trouble dispatching her rivals with an impressive debut victory in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 6 December at New Plymouth, after winning both her trials. She meets a far stronger field in the $22,500 Rating 65 1200 metres but has to rate a top three chance nonetheless.

4.35 p.m. R8 3 Gris Dame (4 m Reliable Man - Double Babu) - Opie Bosson; circled up ominously before finishing sixth here in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 7 December, with Bosson aboard, and suits stepping up in the $22,500 Rating 65 2000 metres. Half-brother MacO'reilly (O'Reilly) won consecutive Group Ones over 2000 metres and she looks competitive in this field.