Te Akau NZ Wednesday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has nine horses racing on Wednesday 27 December: Rotorua and New Plymouth.

Rotorua:

Weather: fine, Track: Dead4, Rail: true

1.24 p.m. R3 3 Scarlet Princess (4 m Redwood - Volks Princess) - Opie Bosson; circled from the rear for a close fifth when resuming in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 30 November at Avondale, and given time since she contests the $12,000 NZB Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres. Narrowly beaten by stable-mate Foreigner (Savabeel) over 1400 metres at the corresponding meet last year, she stylishly beat Rikki Tikki Tavi (Tavistock), a subsequent winner of three races, over 1200 metres in March at Pukekohe, and appears an each way chance in this field.

2.34 p.m. R5 9 Elegant D'Oro (4 m Medaglia d'Oro - Elegant Fashion) - Danielle Johnson; was in tight quarters running in to third when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 12 November at Hastings, before finishing resolutely to win the Maiden 1400 metres on 10 December at Waipukurau. A stronger mare this time in, she seems capable of measuring up in the $10,000 Rating 65 1560 metres.

New Plymouth:

Weather: fine, Track: Good3, Rail: out 10 metres

2.52 p.m. R3 3 Handsome Rebel (2 g Denman - London Rebel) - Dylan Turner; has trialled well in two outings, including a second to first up winner Crystallize (Iffraaj), and debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 2YO 1000 metres. Ideally drawn in barrier two, he is athletic, progressed very well through this preparation, and from a family sporting quite a few stakes performers.

2.52 p.m. R3 6 The Real Beel (2 f Savabeel - Ahna) - Cameron Lammas; won her only trial, in October at Waipa, quickening to an advantage off a competitive pace and strong through the line. From the famous family of Eight Carat (Pieces of Eight), containing five Group One winners, she appears to have inherent ability to match her immense residual value.

3.29 p.m. R4 1 Devil May Care (4 g Lonhro - Devil's Song) - Rosie Myers; made it two thirds and a second from three starts with a notable third here in the Maiden 1400 metres on 7 December, where the winner Larima (Pour Moi) backed up with a fourth in the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1550m). Dropping in distance and with the addition of blinkers in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres, he can overcome a wide draw (11) to rate an each way chance again.

4.04 p.m. R5 2 Lillet Rose (4 m Pins - Lillet) - Cameron Lammas; produced a very creditable debut performance here on 7 December in the Maiden 1400 metres, finishing second and separating the two horses mentioned above (Devil May Care and Larima). The form makes her a solid chance in the $12,000 NZB Pearl Series Maiden 1600 metres.

4.39 p.m. R6 7 Princess Davone (5 m Iffraaj - Nikey Davone) - Tegan Newman (a3); followed an unlucky sixth in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 11 November at Te Rapa, with a notable fourth in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 1 December at Otaki. Ideally drawn (2) and with weight relief to 52.5kgs, she should prove competitive against seven rivals with a differing range of form in the $11,000 Rating 75 1600 metres.

5.49 p.m. R8 6 Mongolianconqueror (3 g Ocean Park - Queen Rania) - Cameron Lammas; recorded a deserved victory at his third start, on 20 October in the Maiden 1600 metres at Tauranga. A progressive staying type in the making, he has been freshened to resume off 68 days in the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres and appears ideally placed to threaten from barrier four.

5.49 p.m. R8 9 Unfazed (4 m Zabeel - Fazed) - Tegan Newman (a3); finished solidly, without a lot of clear room in the straight, for a close fifth in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 15 December at Tauranga, after running the fastest last 600m (35.1) when sustaining a big run for second in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 30 November at Avondale. A clear-cut Maiden winner over 1400 metres by nearly four lengths in January last year, she has the right credentials to rate an each way chance in the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres.