Te Akau Midweek Hastings Preview

Te Akau Racing has 10 horses entered on Wednesday 7 December at Hastings.

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

3:55 p.m. R4 7 Excellerina (4 m Exceed and Excel - Addie Lane) - Craig Grylls; she trailed midfield on the inner but was unable to quicken on the Heavy8 ground in the Maiden 1230 metres on 15 November at Rotorua. She strikes better footing in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres, but requires luck from her wide draw (10).

5:02 p.m. R6 9 Off To The Nunnery (3 f Turn Me Loose - Clos De Tart) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she was caught three wide and kept finding to finish close up among minors in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. She let down well to win her previous (11 Oct.) trial at Waipa, her dam Clos De Tart (Darci Brahma) won on debut over 1200 metres and she is from a talented family - the first of a stable duo competing on debut here.

5:02 p.m. R6 11 Sealed With A Kiss (3 f Tarzino - Postmans Daughter) - Sam Weatherley; she responded well to win her trial on 29 November at Avondale, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. By Derby winner Tarzino (Tavistock), out of Counties' Cup winner Postmans Daughter (Postponed), she is clearly destined for further but is nicely drawn (6) to race well fresh-up.

5:34 p.m. R7 2 Ready to Drink (4 g Burgundy - Corsage) - Michael McNab; he produced a brave effort for fourth after being posted three wide when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 19 October at Tauranga, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Visor blinkers are on and he has drawn the ace, reasons to aid racing well in an event with two stable starters.

5:34 p.m. R7 15 Angels Wings (3 f Heroic Valour - Gowana) - Lisa Allpress; she rallied well for fifth in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. She is nicely bred being by Te Akau trained Diamond Stakes' (Gr. 1, 1200m) winner Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock), from a mare that won over 1100 metres, but requires luck from her wide gate (13).

6:09 p.m. R8 1 Lightning Field (6 g Deep Field - Claudine) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); he was freshened after racing in August, ran on strongly for fourth in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and resumes in the $14,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. He enjoys weight relief to 58kg, all four of his wins have come on soft ground, and he should be getting home strongly - one of a Te Akau trio in the event.

6:09 p.m. R8 2 Mohawk Brave (4 g Extreme Choice - Ben's Duchess) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he quickened well from last in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 29 October at Matamata, has been given time (39 days), and contests the $14,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. A course winner at his only attempt, he ended last season finishing fourth to stable-mate Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m), and is capable of a bold performance from barrier one.

6:09 p.m. R8 5 Cote de Beaune (4 g Burgundy - Lucrative) - Sam Weatherley; he remained back in the same race as Mohawk Brave (above) on 29 October at Matamata, has also been given time (39 days), and likewise contests the $14,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. He won three of five starts last season, but is another that needs luck from a tricky barrier (13).

6:39 p.m. R9 5 Albatross (4 m Sacred Falls - Bint Piavonic) - Craig Grylls; she got home well for fifth when resuming in the Pearl Series Rating 65 1200 metres on 29 October at Matamata, and raced without much room in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 26 November at Te Rapa. She recorded her debut victory here over 1200 metres in February and contesting the $14,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, she has the blinkers on, is ideally drawn (4), and rates a top three chance.

7:13 p.m. R10 4 Shepherd's Delight (4 m Rip Van Winkle - Safari Sunset) - Michael McNab; she ran out of room near the rail in same race as Albatross (above) on 26 November at Te Rapa, and contests the $14,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. She finished second to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) last season, and rates a top four prospect with any rub of the green from her wide draw (13).