Te Akau Matamata Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has nine horses entered on Sunday 28 August at Matamata.

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy10, rail: out 4 metres. No rain forecast.

12:40 p.m. R2 1 Hero Worship (4 g Xtravagant - Idol) - Troy Harris; recorded consecutive seconds before finishing fifth here in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 13 May, and sustained a strong gallop to win a trial, given Heavy10 footing, on 16 August at Avondale. Handily drawn (5), he rates a top three chance fresh-up in the $14,000 Maiden 1050 metres - one of four in the event for the stable.

12:40 p.m. R2 2 Kai (4 m Ocean Park - Brilliant Blush) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); unlucky not to win last season, she registered five second's in six starts, and resumes without a trial in the $14,000 Maiden 1050 metres. Ideally drawn (3), she has a great record, and rates a top three contender if appreciative of the heavy going.

12:40 p.m. R2 3 Sternland (4 m Astern - Landslide) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); placed three times in her first campaign and resumes without a trial in the $14,000 Maiden 1050 metres. She has weight relief to 53.5kg, however has drawn out (10). She would appear best suited to better going, but look for her getting home solidly if appreciative of conditions.

12:40 p.m. R2 4 Believe It Or Not (3 g Star Witness - Believe You Me) - Lisa Allpress; produced a notable debut performance for fifth in the Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1050 metres on 30 March at Matamata, and resumes in the $14,000 Maiden 1050 metres. He won both his preparatory trials on heavy ground and although likely to appreciate better footing, he shapes to race well from barrier two.

1:15 p.m. R3 2 Homegrown (4 g Turn Me Loose - Dresden Park) - Troy Harris; finished sixth when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres on 6 August at Ruakaka, and he contests the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. He lifted to winning advantage when trialling on a Heavy8 track in June at Te Rapa, and should race well from barrier one if appreciative of the footing.

2:25 p.m. R5 1 Te Akau Caliburn (8 g Camelot - Enchanted Evening) - Kelsey Hannam (a3); ended his previous campaign after the Auckland Cup (Gr. 2, 3200m) in March at Ellerslie, and trialled twice in preparation to resume in the $14,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. Claiming to 61kg, he is a staying type and is likely to prefer better ground - one of three in the event for the stable.

2:25 p.m. R5 2 Leaderboard (8 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Niranjan Parmar (a3); recorded a decisive victory in the New Zealand St Leger (Listed, 2600m), posted a big effort for second in the Hawke's Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m), and was spelled after fifth in the Rotorua Cup (Gr. 3, 2200m). He kept up a really strong gallop to win easily at the trials on 4 August at Te Rapa, enjoys weight relief to 60.5kg, has a good course record, and appears capable of a bold fresh-up effort in the $14,000 Rating 75 1600 metres.

2:25 p.m. R5 3 The Mighty Spar (5 g Savabeel - O'Dianne) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); ended his previous campaign in good form, stretching out well to win the Rating 74 2000 metres on 13 May at Matamata, and resumed with unlucky fifth in the Rating 75 1550 metres on 17 August at Cambridge (poly-track). Unbeaten in two starts on course, he rates top three chance in the $14,000 Rating 75 1600 metres if appreciative of conditions.

3:05 p.m. R6 1 Fierce Flight (4 g Flying Artie - First Bloom) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); trialled twice before finishing eighth when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 20 August at Ruakaka, and contests the $14,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. He ran the fastest last 600m (34.8) on the day when dead-heating for first in the Maiden 1600 metres on 20 February at Hastings, but may require better footing.