Te Akau Matamata Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 17 horses entered on Sunday 14 May at Matamata.

Weather: cloudy, track: Heavy10, rail: out 4 metres.

12:03 p.m. R1 14 Star Power (3 f Almanzor - Silver Blossom) - Michael McNab; she fought on for fifth in a trial on 5 May at Cambridge (poly-track), and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 2000 metres. She gives the indication of requiring a trip, but much depends on her handling the prevailing conditions.

12:38 p.m. R2 1 Final Red (2 g Burgundy - Tad Infinitum) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); he held third comfortably in a trial on 24 April at Waipa, and resumes in the $14,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres. Given time after finishing back when debuting in the 2YO 1100 metres on 10 December at Te Rapa, won by subsequent Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) winning stable-mate Trobriand (Kermadec), much depends on him also handling the track conditions.

12:38 p.m. R2 4 Egyptian Queen (2 f Zoustar - Hieroglyphics) - Michael McNab; she finished fourth to subsequent Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (Listed, 1200m) winner Solidify (Redwood) on 29 April at Te Rapa, and likewise contests the $14,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres. Second and fourth in two starts, she trialled well on heavy ground, and is ideally placed to rate a top three chance.

1:15 p.m. R3 4 Angel Wings (3 f Heroic Valour - Gowana) - Michael McNab; she made it three consecutive seconds in the Maiden 1200 metres on 26 April at Hawera, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Placed in both starts on heavy going and rates a top three prospect from barrier five.

1:15 p.m. R3 7 Coco Angel (3 f Shamexpress - Chapchick) - Wiremu Pinn; she pushed out to win well at the trials on 24 April at Waipa, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Her dam Chapchick (High Chaparral) recorded both wins on heavy ground to 1950 metres, and she shapes to race well first-up.

1:15 p.m. R3 13 Popthebubbles (3 f Wrote - Vickezzlepin) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she finished strongly for third in a trial on 24 April at Waipa, and resumes in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. From the family of current star stable-mate Aromatic (Sacred Falls), who recently won the Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) among three stakes' wins this season, she has the pedigree to handle give in ground and look for her finding the line strongly.

1:50 p.m. R4 3 Hero Worship (4 g Xtravagant - Idol) - Michael McNab; he ran the fastest last 600m (36.3) for third in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 26 April at Hawera, and contests the $14,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. All three wins have come on his home course at Matamata, most recently on 29 March over 1400 metres, and he has displayed the ability to cope with give in ground and his form is hard to fault.

1:50 p.m. R4 5 Ragamuffin (4 g Belardo - Short Tale) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); he found the line when resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 25 April at Avondale, and also contests the $14,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Fitter for that outing, he was a course winner at his only attempt, and his looks to possess the ability to cope with the heavy going.

1:50 p.m. R4 7 Kai (4 m Ocean Park - Brilliant Blush) - Jess Allen (a4); she worked home nicely for fifth in a trial on 24 April at Waipa, and resumes in the $14,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Shed brings very good course/distance into play and also has a heavy track record, plus with weight relief to 52.5kg, she rates a top three chance.

2:23 p.m. R5 5 Rare Company (3 g Savabeel - Fast Company) - Michael McNab; he resumed with a good fourth and was then without favours from a wide draw (11) in the Maiden 2YO & 3YO 1400 metres here on 19 April. Untried on this depth of footing, much depends on how he copes with the track conditions.

3:01 p.m. R6 3 Francee (3 f Iffraaj - Calveen) - Michael McNab; she worked forward outside the leader and fought hard for second in the Maiden 2YO & 3YO 1400 metres here on 19 April. Improving with each experience, her dam Calveen (Canny Lad) impressed on better ground, but this filly should race well again if appreciative of track conditions in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus).

3:37 p.m. R7 2 Luxembourg (4 g Burgundy - Miss Daphne) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); he fought hard for third when resuming in the Rating 60 1400 metres on 10 April at Woodville, and was then fourth in the Rating 60 1600 metres on 26 April at Hawera. Contesting the $14,000 Rating 60 1400 metres, he won his Maiden on heavy going and is expected to race well again.

3:37 p.m. R7 6 Rip Van Gogh (5 g Rip Van Winkle - On the Move) - Michael McNab; he ran the fastest last 600m (33.9) for second in the Jumpers High-weight 1600 metres on 10 April at Woodville, but was not in the same form in the Rating 60 1600 metres on 26 April at Hawera. He has however been racing solidly and has opportunity to bounce back here, if he copes with the conditions in the $14,000 Rating 60 1400 metres.

3:37 p.m. R7 9 Polly Plum (4 m Xtravagant - Herstory) - Jess Allen (a4); she drops in grade after resuming in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 23 April at Awapuni, and likewise contests the $14,000 Rating 60 1400 metres. Aided by weight relief to 54kg, she receives chance to improve if she too can handle the going.

4:16 p.m. R8 7 Trieste (4 m Tivaci - Domani Oro) - Jess Allen (a4); she raced well for fourth in the Pearl Series Maiden 1600 metres on 26 April at Hawera, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 1600 metres. She enjoys weight relief to 52.5kg, and has placed twice on her home course, but much depends on (once again) her handling conditions.

4:16 p.m. R8 8 Fay Khan It (4 m Mongolian Khan - Morgan Le Fay) - Michael McNab; she produced a good effort for third in the Pearl Series Maiden 1400 metres here on 19 April, and also contests the $14,000 Maiden 1600 metres. Again much will depend on how she copes with the heavy going.