Te Akau Rotorua Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses entered for the ten race programme on Friday 8 January at Rotorua.

As on Thursday 7 January the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 2 metres. At present there is 14mls of rain forecast.

11.53 a.m. R1 7 Sanhermano (4 m El Hermano - Santiga Lass) - Cameron Lammas; makes her debut in the Maiden 1230 metres. The two trials have resulted in a first and second, respectively, and her action has looked good. The mare, Santiga Lass (College Chapel), has left quite a few winners and a bold performance would not surprise with luck from a wide draw.

1:03 p.m. R3 2 Beacon of Hope (3 g Fastnet Rock - Randaroo) - Matt Cameron; peaked on his resuming run after racing outside the leader in the Maiden 1400 metres on 16 December at Matamata, and should have derived benefit. Drawn barrier six in the corresponding event, he again rates a good each way chance in this field.

2.48 p.m. R6 2 Osmunda (5 m O'Reilly - Wyndam Special) - Matt Cameron; drops in class to contest the Rating 65 1560 metres, having resumed with a win over a mile in the same grade five starts ago. She meets a solid field, has acted previously with some cut in the track, and a smooth trip from barrier seven could see her in the finish.

3.58 p.m. R8 6 Special Memories (3 f Fastnet Rock - Memories of You) - Cameron Lammas; had a brief let up following her tough effort for fourth to stable-mate Risque (Darci Brahma) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) during a successful campaign which included a top win, and a stakes place in the Armadillo Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Riccarton. Resuming off 55 days in the Rating 75 1400 metres, she should prove a good chance if the footing remains intact.

4.33 p.m. R9 11 Thetruthisoutthere (3 f Starcraft - Absolute Faith) - Matt Cameron; was freshened following a commanding win, and a start in the Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m), during her first campaign and resumes off 61 days in the Rating 65 13230 metres. She has the gate speed to negate a wide barrier, but will require luck to secure the right passage and prove competitive in a tidy field.