Te Akau NZ Tauranga Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has six horses entered on Wednesday 18 October at Tauranga.

Weather: fine, track: Soft7, rail: out 7 metres. 4mls rain forecast Tuesday and no rain Wednesday.

11:53 a.m. R1 15 War Of Succession (3 g Tavistock – Ziffel) – Warren Kennedy; he found the line wide on the track when debuting in the Maiden 1400 metres on 20 September at Matamata, and contests the $18,500 Maiden 1600 metres. Suited stepping up in distance, he receives opportunity to improve if he can secure a decent trip from barrier 10.

1:04 p.m. R3 1 Rule Of Law (3 g Justify – Repeat) – Opie Bosson; he worked forward from his wide gate (13) and lifted for an eye-catching third when debuting in the Maiden 1400 metres on 20 September at Matamata, and contests the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. He rates a top three chance from barrier five.

2:47 p.m. R6 2 Moon Rocket (3 g Merchant Navy – Moon Lover) – Opie Bosson; he finished well for fourth when debuting in the Maiden 1050 metres on 27 August and was a notable fourth behind subsequent winners Canon Hill (Ardrossan) and Sudbina (Almanzor) in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 20 September, both at Matamata. With blinkers on, he presents as a top three prospect in the $18,500 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres.

3:23 p.m. R7 14 Egyptian Queen (3 f Zoustar – Hieroglyphics) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she improved widest rounding the home turn and sustained a strong finish for third in a trial on 10 October at Matamata, and resumes in the $18,500 Maiden 1200 metres. She ran the fastest last 600m (33.5) for second in the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres when debuting here in April, was competitive in good two-year-old fields, and looks set to make an impact here.

5:09 p.m. R10 8 Fay Khan It (5 m Mongolian Khan – Morgan Le Fay) – Opie Bosson; she was unable to quicken over a sprint trip when trialling on 10 October at Matamata, and resumes in the $18,500 Rating 65 1600 metres. A course/distance winner on Heavy10 going, she receives the opportunity to race well from the handy barrier four.

5:44 p.m. R11 3 Spellcraft (4 g Savabeel – Bewitching) – Opie Bosson; he worked forward into second but failed to handle the heavy footing in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 29 September at Te Rapa, and contests the $18,500 Rating 65 1600 metres. He won his Maiden over 1600 metres, ended his previous campaign in good form, and is presented with the opportunity to improve here but will require a massive dose of luck from his wide gate(16) but he has the man in the saddle to navigate this negative!