Te Akau Pukekohe Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has six horses racing on Friday 5 May at Pukekohe.

As on Thursday 4 May the conditions were: cloudy and Slow7, rail true. No rain forecast.

1.18 p.m. R4 10 Zedman (4 g Zed - Sazerac) - Will Gordon (a3); has a couple of trials under his belt and having his first start for the stable, off a long spell, he contests the $10,000 Maiden High-weight 1600 metres. With weight relief to 65kgs, he should receive a favourable trip from barrier two and continue to improve for the run.

1.53 p.m. R5 10 Abloom (3 f Darci Brahma - Corsage) - Opie Bosson; did well from last to finish close up in the minors when fourth on 26 February at Wairoa, having run home strongly for second there three days prior. Off 68 days, she meets a solid field in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres but is racing in good fettle and drawn the ace.

2.28 p.m. R6 11 Smoke House Bay (4 m Eighth Wonder - Makesmewonder) - Danielle Johnson; produced another very good effort when close up in third on 27 April in the Rating 65 1300 metres on Dead5 at Tauranga, with Johnson aboard, after closing from back in the field for third here on 9 April in the Rating 65 1400 metres. Drawn barrier one in the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, she is presented with another very good winning opportunity.

2.28 p.m. R6 14 Corporate Missile (3 f Smart Missile - Corporate) - Cameron Lammas; never fired when resuming off 60 days in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 27 April at Tauranga, and gets her chance for an improved showing in the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. Lammas returned from suspension with three winning rides on Wednesday at Matamata and combined well with this filly early on at the trials.

3.40 p.m. R8 5 Princess Davone (4 m Iffraaj - Nikey Davone) - Jasmine Fawcett (a4); came out of midfield with a strong finish for third when resuming off 60 days in the $10,000 Rating 75 1400 metres on 27 April at Tauranga, and contests the corresponding event from barrier eight. The Te Akau apprentice handled her perfectly when they combined to win here last October, fresh-up over 1200 metres on Dead6 footing, and weight relief to 53kgs provides an ideal edge.

4.18 p.m. R9 12 Spritz (4 m Thorn Park - Spray) - Cameron Lammas; ran her final 600m (35.5) faster than the winner, yet remained rearward, when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 27 April at Tauranga, and steps up in distance for the $10,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. A Maiden winner over a mile on heavy going, she meets a fairly strong field but the lengthy straight should meet with her appreciation.