Te Akau Saturday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has three horses entered for the nine-race premier programme on Saturday Feb. 22 at Matamata.

As on Friday Feb. 21 the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true.

1:13pm R2 3 Precious Time (6 m Stravinsky - Ana Zeel) - Matt Cameron; drops back in grade after contesting the Wairarapa Breeders' Stakes (Listed, 1600m) on Feb. 6 at Tauherenikau, won by Recite (Darci Brahma). At her previous start, second up off a long spell, she travelled nicely off the pace and got up to win through a deft bit of riding near the rail on Jan. 11 in the Benchmark 85 1600 metres at Awapuni. A mare looking to get over more ground, she will be ridden quietly from barrier ten in the Benchmark 85 1600 metres and look for her to be running home strongly.

2:23pm R4 8 Rockfast (2 c Fastnet Rock - Gypsy Princess) - Matt Cameron; contests the Matamata Slipper (Listed, 1200m) off a 56-day break and the benefit of recent trial outing for third at Cambridge. A young colt with good attributes, he made a good fist of his only start when, from the outside gate, he travelled wide throughout and still rounded off solidly for third to The Bounty Hunter (Any Suggestion) on Dec. 28 in the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres at Ellerslie. Sporting blinkers on this occasion, to assist with sharpness over the sprint trip, he should secure a good passage from barrier five and has what it takes to make his presence felt in an even line up of colts and geldings. Te Akau has won this race four times with Cosma D' Dor, King's Ransom, Minstrel Court and Darci Brahma.

3:33pm R6 2 Flaming (2 f Bachelor Duke - Flying Firebird) - Matt Cameron; sat off a competitive pace and put her rivals away with an impressive turn of foot on Feb. 1 to win the 2YO 1200 metres at Te Rapa. Having raced very genuinely to finish fourth in each of her previous three starts, including the Murdoch Newell Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Pukekohe, it was much deserved success. She has pleased trainer Jason Bridgman in her work since and strips in terrific order to contest the prestigious Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Listed, 1200m). A race in which Te Akau has trained five winners, Flaming presents as a very good chance to increase the tally.