Te Akau Midweek Matamata Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on Wednesday 19 April at Matamata.

Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. Showers forecast. 

12:32 p.m. R2 1 Leaderboard (8 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Michael Roustoby (a3); he has been given time (39 days) since the Auckland Cup (Gr. 2, 3200m) at Pukekohe, and contests the $14,000 Rating 75 High-weight 2000 metres. The Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) winner in January at Trentham, he has weight relief to 71.5kg, has drawn barrier one, and races well on his home track. 

12:32 p.m. R2 2 Bak Da Master (8 g Mastercraftsman - Bak Da Princess) - Emily Farr; he resumed with a good effort for third in the Jumpers' High-weight 1600 metres on 10 April at Woodville, and likewise contests the $14,000 Rating 75 High-weight 2000 metres. He has been placed in all four attempts on his home course and rates a top three chance. 

2:17 p.m. R5 14 Affluence (3 f Savabeel - Miss Opulence) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); she got back and sustained a good gallop for second in a trial on 21 March at Taupo, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. The sister to stable-mate Zeitaku, the winner of three races to 1400 metres, she appears capable of a bold showing for her first appearance on race day. 

2:54 p.m. R6 5 Fay Khan It (4 m Mongolian Khan - Morgan Le Fay) - Ryan Elliot; she remained midfield on the inner when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 29 March, and contests the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres. She is suited stepping up in trip and receives the chance to improve from barrier four. 

2:54 p.m. R6 12 Redsheis (3 f Burgundy - Show No Emotion) - Opie Bosson; she ran well off a wide gate (12) for fourth when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 5 April at Tauranga, and also contests the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). She has been placed two from three on her home course and looks to be capable of a first three finish. 

3:29 p.m. R7 2 Rare Company (3 g Savabeel - Fast Company) - Opie Bosson; he raced in tight quarters throughout when fourth resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres here on 29 March, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 2YO & 3YO 1400 metres. He shapes to improve but will require luck from the wide draw (11). 

3:29 p.m. R7 6 Prefer To Play (3 g Preferment - Play Me) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); he was caught wide but kept giving for close third in a trial on 28 March at Taupo, and makes his debut in the $14,000 Maiden 2YO & 3YO 1400 metres. He has the pedigree to get further, but this is an ideal starting point on his home track.

3:29 p.m. R7 10 Francee (3 f Iffraaj - Calveen) - Michael McNab; she was back and wide when running home for fifth in the Maiden 1200 metres on 29 March, and also contests the $14,000 Maiden 2YO & 3YO 1400 metres. She has two runs under her belt, and she is looking to improve but is another who will need a good dose of luck from an awkward draw (10).

3:29 p.m. R7 11 Princess Jasmine (3 f Satono Aladdin - She's Insatiable) - Kozzi Asano; she got back to last before finishing solidly for sixth in the Maiden 1400 metres on 5 April at Tauranga, and likewise lines up in the $14,000 Maiden 2YO & 3YO 1400 metres. She appears capable of further improvement from barrier four. 

4:04 p.m. R8 1 Image of You (5 m Pins - Exactly Like You) - Warren Kennedy; she missed the start by 10 lengths when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 8 April at Pukekohe, and contests the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1400 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). She has been placed two from two on her home course, and if she begins well, she will be right in the thick of the action at the business end, if she can overcome the wide draw (11). 

4:04 p.m. R8 2 Invincibeel (4 m Savabeel - Matakana) - Opie Bosson; she ran the fastest last 600m (35.2) when closing for fourth in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 5 April at Tauranga, and she too contests the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1400 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). She drops back in trip, but is a talented mare, the blinkers are on, and she rates a top three prospect from barrier three. 

4:04 p.m. R8 4 Hayate (4 m Maurice - Vamoose) - Jessica Allen (a4); she ran home the widest when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 8 April at Pukekohe, and she also contests the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1400 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). First and third in her two course attempts, she has weight relief to 55kg from the apprentice jockey who rode stable-mate Aotea Lad (Savabeel) to win on her first race day of riding last Saturday at Te Rapa. She is capable of a bold showing.