Te Akau Rotorua Monday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has nine horses racing on 28 December at Rotorua.

Weather: fine, track: Dead5, rail: true. 6mls rain forecast 27^th, no rain race day.

12.50 p.m. R2 2 Shezathinka (5 m So You Think - Headsup) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); she worked home well near the rail when trialling on 14 December at Te Aroha, and resumes in the $11,000 Rating 74 1400 metres. She was a five-length winner on the course in March over 2200 metres, has weight relief to 55kg and is capable of a bold showing from barrier five. 

12.50 p.m. R2 3 Lilikoi (4 m Charm Spirit - Barbadine) - Danielle Johnson; she made ground from last to finish fourth in the Rating 74 1200 metres on 12 December at Te Rapa, and steps up in the $11,000 Rating 74 1400 metres. Last season, she proved too good winning the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), and was third in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and rates a top three chance from barrier two.

1.25 p.m. R3 15 Felicienne (3 f Savabeel - Flavigny) - Craig Grylls; found the line for third to subsequent Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) placed Explosively (Sweynesse) on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 25 November at Te Rapa, and did well off a wide run for second in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 10 December at Ellerslie. She rates a top three chance from barrier six in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. 

1.25 p.m. R3 8 Wishing Well (3 f Charm Spirit - Starwish) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); she was eased late on debut in the Maiden 1230 metres on 17 November at Rotorua, and wasn't far away off a wide run for sixth in the Pearl Series Maiden 3YO Fillies 1200 metres on 9 December at Hastings. In the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres, the barrier one draw and weight relief to 51.5kg is ideal.

2.00 p.m. R4 8 Get Hitched (4 m Lonhro - Wedding) - Danielle Johnson; worked home from back and wide, after drawing 13, in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 12 December at Awapuni, and contests the $10,000 Rating 65 1215 metres. Drawn awkwardly again (8), she will be looking for a drag into calculations. 

2.35 p.m. R5 14 Diamond Riviere (3 f Pierro - Special Gemstone) - Joe Kamaruddin (a4); debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 1215 metres. Drawn barrier one, with weight relief to 51kg, and from the family of 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winning stable-mate Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma), she is bred to go further but receives an ideal first-up opportunity.

3.11 p.m. R6 1 Ginger Too (4 g Iffraaj - La Chiflota) - Troy Harris; he worked forward off the outside gate (11) and kept fighting strongly for third here in the $15,000 Dunstan Stayers Qualifier (Rating 65, 1560m) on 2 December. Drawn the outside again (11) in the $10,000 Rating 65 1560 metres, he rates a top three chance with the right trip.

3.11 p.m. R6 3 Super Sid (4 g Rip Van Winkle - Half Bak) - Opie Bosson; unleashed a big finish to win the Maiden 1400 metres on 23 September at Matamata, trialled recently after being freshened, and although finishing back he worked home okay in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 9 December at Rotorua. He can improve to figure in the $10,000 Rating 65 1560 metres.

4.57 p.m. R9 19 Garbo (3 f Proisir - La Pucelle) - Craig Grylls; was back throughout on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 11 December at Tauranga, and steps up in the $10,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Fillies & Mares Maiden 1400 metres (eligible $11,500 bonus). She is likely to get back from barrier 10, but look for her finishing off. 

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