Te Akau Ruakaka Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has four horses entered on Wednesday 14 December at Ruakaka.

Weather: cloudy, track: Soft5, rail: 15mls rain forecast Wednesday.  

12:55 p.m. R2 4 Aquilo (5 g Frankel - Stormy Lucy) - Opie Bosson; he did his best work through the line over a sprint trip when trialling on 6 December at Waipa, and resumes in the $14,000 Rating 60 1600 metres. Previously racing in Australia, he won his Maiden over 2218 metres, was placed up to 2600 metres, and receives a chance to improve if the track remains decent.

2:43 p.m. R5 11 Excellerina (4 m Exceed and Excel - Addie Lane) - Opie Bosson; she trailed midfield on the inner but was unable to quicken on the Heavy8 going in the Maiden 1230 metres on 15 November at Rotorua. Weather dependent, she is likely to strike better footing in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres, but is another who requires luck from a wide gate (11).

3:55 p.m. R7 10 Al Malik (3 g Zoustar - Mumtazaah) - Opie Bosson; he circled widest and made up plenty for fourth when trialling on 6 December at Waipa, and resumes in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. He won stylishly at the trials before his debut in March, and is likely to get back from his (yes) wide draw (11) but look for him to be finishing strongly.

5:02 p.m. R9 10 Marvelouz (3 f Almanzor - Miraculous Miss) - Warren Kennedy; she finished second when debuting over 1215 metres in March at Rotorua, spelled, won a trial on 3 November at Matamata, and made good ground for third in another trial on 29 November at Avondale. Resuming in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus), she brings the right stats to rate a top three chance with a decent trip from barrier nine.