Te Akau Rotorua Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses entered for the eight-race programme on Thursday January 8 at Rotorua.

As on Wednesday January 7 the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 4 metres.

1.15 p.m. R2 5 Seline (4 m Pentire - Dion) - Matt Cameron; looked the winner, following a run near the pace, before being claimed late on Dec. 17 in the Maiden 2000 metres at Matamata, when wearing blinkers for the first time. She had stayed on through the line over 1800 metres prior and steps out here in the Maiden 1950 metres. She wound up stylishly for fourth here on debut over 1400 metres at her only course attempt and appears a good chance to break through from barrier three.

1.50 p.m. R3 2 Tiara (4 m O'Reilly - Royal Lady) - Lee Magorrian (a2); finished third after setting up a solid pace on Nov. 29 in the Rating 65 1600 metres at Ellerslie, having led her rivals a merry chase to win the Rating 65 1600 metres in a slick time (1:34.7) on Nov. 8 at Te Rapa, ridden on each occasion by this jockey. A mare with good ability, she steps up in distance to face a moderate line up in the Rating 65 1950 metres. Already placed second over 2100 metres, her extended family had plenty of stamina and she appears nicely placed here.

2.25 p.m. R4 11 Got the Snitz (3 f Snitzel - Modave) - Matt Cameron; found the line for third resuming off 198-days on Dec. 22 in the Maiden 1100 metres at New Plymouth, in a race won by subsequent smart winner Borntoachieve (Bernardini). She displayed a good turn of foot when coming from off the pace to win her first trial here, has ear covers on to help her relax and should receive a favourable trip from barrier six.

4.44 p.m. R8 4 Skyscraper (3 g Manhattan Rain - Grand Performance) - Lee Magorrian (a2); makes his debut in the Maiden 1400 metres. Nicely handled when third in a trial here over 1000 metres on Nov. 29, he is a horse still developing confidence in the racing caper and as such will be allowed to find his feet from a wide draw and run home solidly.