Te Akau NZ Friday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses entered for the eight-race programme at Rotorua, and three on the seven-race card at New Plymouth, Friday Dec. 27.

Rotorua:
As on Monday Dec. 23 the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail true.

12:35pm R1 3 Cajero (4 g Encosta De Lago - Cashier) - Matt Cameron; got well back in a big field nearing the 600 metres and made ground between runners in the straight when debuting on Dec. 8 in the Maiden 2100 metres at Waipukurau. Stepping to 2200 metres from barrier eleven, he is the type to produce an improved performance in this line-up.

3:30pm R6 4 Sovereign Rose (6 m Pins - Pavan) - Mick Dee (a2); eighth at the post with a lap to run, she tracked up in a compressed field nearing the home turn and worked home okay in tight quarters on Dec. 12 in the Benchmark 85 2100 metres at Hastings. Back in her rightful grade for the Benchmark 75 1950 metres, she can find her way into the finish against a fairly competitive field.

4:05pm R7 11 Seline (3 f Pentire - Dion) - Matt Cameron; makes her debut from barrier two in the Maiden Fillies and Mares 1400 metres. A staying type filly in the making, she has trialled nicely and appears to possess what it takes to make an encouraging start to her career.

4:40pm R8 17 Rapid Gain (4 g Flying Spur - Occasional Gain) - Matt Cameron; remained rearward before working home okay when resuming off a 114-day break on Dec. 11 in the Benchmark 65 1200 metres at Ellerslie. Second here fresh-up on July 31, he displayed a good turn of foot under rider Opie Bosson to beat a handy field over 1300 metres on dead ground in August at Taupo. Trainer Jason Bridgman is weighing up options to race here, or on the same day at New Plymouth.

New Plymouth:

As on Monday Dec. 23 the conditions were: fine and Good3, rail true.

1:30pm R2 8 Smashing (2 f Pins - Ruud Van Slaats) - Kelly Myers; displayed a good action and all-round attributes when winning a trial on Dec. 17 over 650 metres at Te Aroha. From the talented dual Group Two winning mare Ruud Van Slaats (Van Nistelrooy), herself a winner on debut over 1150 metres, she meets a solid field in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres but looks to possess what it takes to measure up.

2:40pm R4 3 Rapid Gain (4 g Flying Spur - Occasional Gain) - Kelly Myers; remained rearward before working home okay when resuming off a 114-day break on Dec. 11 in the Benchmark 65 1200 metres at Ellerslie. Second fresh-up on July 31 at Rotorua, he displayed a good turn of foot under rider Opie Bosson to beat a handy field over 1300 metres on dead ground in August at Taupo. Trainer Jason Bridgman is weighing up options to race here, or on the same day at Rotorua.

3:50pm R6 4 Secret Whisper (5 g Align - Danewhisper) - Kelly Myers; got into a nice position from an awkward draw and while no threat to the winner he was not far away on Dec. 11 in Benchmark 75 1600 metres at Ellerslie. Drawn barrier one in the Benchmark 75 1580 metres, trainer Jason Bridgman scratched the horse from the meeting here on Dec. 23 in hope of some easing in the ground. He shown to be more competitive on yielding footing and can prove competitive given track conditions to suit.