Te Akau Rotorua Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has seven horses racing on Wednesday 28 November at Rotorua.

As on Tuesday 27 November the conditions were: overcast and Slow8, rail out 3 metres 1200m to winning post, remainder out 1.5 metres. No further rain forecast Tuesday, 7mls Wednesday.

1.40 p.m. R3 7 Weaponry (3 g Declaration of War - Cat Shmea) - Opie Bosson; trialled well on Slow7 for second over 1000 metres on 1 November at Te Aroha, and debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres. His dam won on debut over 1000 metres, and Declaration of War, Joint Champion Older Male in Europe, was a triple Group One winning miler in Europe - his oldest progeny are now three. This gelding is likely to seek cover from barrier eight and seems ideally placed to rate an each way chance.

2.15 p.m. R4 1 King Kane (5 g Showcasing - Vannista Belle) - Opie Bosson; battled on after racing too keenly in second on Melbourne Cup Day at Ellerslie, in the Rating 65 1600 metres, and contests the $10,000 Rating 65 1560 metres. Drawn wide may not disadvantage on rain-affected footing, but two wins on reasonable ground would suggest he needs to appreciate the going to prove competitive.

2.50 p.m. R5 11 Shezathinka (3 f So You Think - Headsup) - Opie Bosson; was a stylish trial winner on 8 November at Cambridge, and debuts in the $10,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series 1215 metres where she shapes to prove competitive. Her dam, Headsup (Thorn Park), acted on slow ground when winning impressively over 1400m/1600m, and So You Think (High Chaparral) retired to stud as the highest rated son of his sire after winning 14 races (10 Group One) and $8.8 million in prize money.

3.25 p.m. R6 9 Dublin Rose (3 f O'Reilly - Irish Dream) - Nik Bakar (a4); was clear in second after trailing when resuming on Slow8 in the Maiden 3YO 1150 metres on 31 October at Waipa, and steps up in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres. Naturally talented, with solid form, she is aided by weight relief to 51kgs and barrier one to rate a top three chance again if appreciative of the extra distance.

4.04 p.m. R7 4 Icebomb (4 m Darci Brahma - Snowdonia) - Nik Bakar (a4); given time (34 days) following consecutive wins, most recently in the Rating 72 1200 metres at Waipukurau, where, carrying 56kgs she clocked the fastest final 600m (33.8) on the day. Remaining in the same grade for the $11,000 Rating 72 1100 metres, with weight relief to 54.5kgs, she has drawn wide which could prove beneficial, finished second at both course attempts, and just needs to cop the conditions to threaten.

4.39 p.m. R8 3 Fabulous Flight (4 g I Am Invincible - Court Flying) - Opie Bosson; got going late after being tightened and having to change ground in the straight on 10 November at Te Rapa, in the Maiden 1400 metres, and contests the corresponding event. His prior two efforts for fourth and second, respectively, were encouraging at Waipukurau and despite drawing wide, his appreciation of the going would rate him an each way prospect.

5.14 p.m. R9 1 Don'tblamethemusic (5 g Coats Choice - Blame the Music) - Nik Bakar (a4); followed consecutive wins with a second to subsequent impressive winner Supera (Savabeel) and continued his fine form with a close second in the Rating 72 1200 metres on 11 November at Hastings, ridden in each by Bakar. He again receives weight relief to 58.5kgs but steps up in distance for the $11,000 Rating 72 1400 metres. The winner of five from 12, he races on pace and rates an each way chance.