Te Akau Rotorua Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has 13 horses entered on Wednesday 28 December at Rotorua.

Weather: fine, track: Soft6, rail: true. No rain forecast.

12:55 p.m. R2 9 Marvelouz (3 f Almanzor - Miraculous Miss) - Warren Kennedy; she had to change ground late when mounting a strong finish for fourth when resuming in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres on 14 December at Ruakaka, and also contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. She finished second when debuting here in March over 1215 metres, is ideally drawn (3) and rates a top three chance.

12:55 p.m. R2 12 Kith ‘n' Kin (3 f Almanzor - Kindred) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she produced a good effort from last to finish fifth when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres on 9 December at Tauranga, and steps up in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. Dam Kindred (Pins) impressed winning over 1400 metres, however her filly requires luck from an awkward draw (9) but shapes to race well on better footing.

3:51 p.m. R7 9 Sans Doute (3 f Not A Single Doubt - My Prerogative) - Michael McNab; she won all three trials before three starts yielding two seconds and fourth, and drew clear to win a trial with her ears pricked on 12 December at Avondale. Resuming in the $14,000 Maiden 1215 metres, she is a filly with obvious ability and rates a top three prospect.

3:51 p.m. R7 12 Popthebubbles (3 f Wrote - Vickezzlepin) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she ran home strongly for third in a trial on 6 December at Waipa, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1215 metres. From the family of recent Counties' Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m) winning stable-mate Aromatic (Sacred Falls), she is destined for further but appears capable of bold showing fresh-up.

3:51 p.m. R7 16 Paixanito (3 g Darci Brahma - Paixanito) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he was not far away at the line in a trial on 12 December at Avondale, and he is another on debut in the $14,000 Maiden 1215 metres drawn the inside gate. He will be aided by better footing, but is from a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare and is likely to appreciate further.

4:26 p.m. R8 1 Al Malik (3 g Zoustar - Mumtazaah) - Opie Bosson; he made up plenty for fourth when trialling on 6 December at Waipa, and was the same again with a strong finish for second on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 14 December at Ruakaka. He rates a top three chance in the $14,000 Maiden 1215 metres.

4:26 p.m. R8 2 Insatiable (3 g All Too Hard - All Day Baby) - Jake Bayliss; he was held together with more to offer in a trial on 6 December at Waipa, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1215 metres. He has shown ability and appears capable of good performance from barrier six subject to handling the track.

4:26 p.m. R8 8 Our Milly Bee (3 f Merchant Navy - Rina Bettina) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she finished solidly for fifth in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 29 October at Matamata, and saved ground with a similar effort for third in the Maiden 3YO 1230 metres here on 30 November. Contesting the $14,000 Maiden 1215 metres, she should go well if she can navigate her awkward gate (10).

4:26 p.m. R8 9 Aequus (3 f Iffraaj - Equanimity) - Warren Kennedy; she trailed from barrier one and was good the last bit to win stylishly at the trials on 29 November at Avondale. Debuting in the $14,000 Maiden 1215 metres, Te Akau trained her dam Equanimity (More Than Ready), who impressed winning here on debut over 1230 metres, and her daughter is ideally drawn (2) to race well.

4:59 p.m. R9 2 Pure Imagination (4 g Darci Brahma - Granadilla) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he finished strongly off the trail to win a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and resumes in the $14,000 Rating 65 1215 metres. He has won twice over 1200 metres on soft footing, he has the blinkers on, and he ideally drawn (2) to give a good account of himself.

4:59 p.m. R9 5 Felicienne (4 m Savabeel - Flavigny) - Opie Bosson; she stretched out nicely late for fourth in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, won by Pure Imagination (above), and also resumes in the $14,000 Rating 65 1215 metres. Terrifically consistent, she is course/distance placed, and rates a top three chance.

4:59 p.m. R9 12 Sicilian Dream (4 m Dream Ahead - Taormina) - Warren Kennedy; she sustained a solid run for second in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and she resumes off 60 days in the $14,000 Rating 65 1215 metres. She debuted with a terrific course/distance victory in March and should race well with a decent trip from barrier nine.

4:59 p.m. R9 16 Caravella (3 f Caravaggio - Highland Lights) - Sam Weatherley; she paid the price after working wide throughout in the 3YO 1200 metres on 10 December at Te Rapa, won by dual stakes' winning stable-mate Wild Night (Vanbrugh), and drops in class for the $14,000 Rating 65 1215 metres. Two starts ago she won her Maiden over 1200 metres and is well drawn (1) to bounce back.