Te Akau Taupo Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses entered for the eight-race programme on Monday Dec. 30 at Taupo.

As on Sunday Dec. 29 the conditions were: raining and Dead4, rail true.

1:00pm R1 9 Merrily (3 f O'Reilly - McHappy) - Matt Cameron; was urged to utilize barrier one and late clear she surged home stylishly for third to Irish Moon (O'Reilly) when debuting on Nov. 21 in the Maiden 1200 metres at Matamata, with Mick Dee (a2) aboard. On the strength of form from that race, she appears a leading chance from barrier five in the corresponding race.

1:40pm R2 4 Sir Darci (3 g Darci Brahma - Dominant) - Matt Cameron; spelled following a dominant Maiden win at Gisborne, he resumes from a 99-day break in the Benchmark 65 1400 metres. He trialled well behind stable-mate Alchemy's Flight (Darci Brahma) recently at Cambridge, with Leith Innes aboard, and has the ability to prove competitive in this field with a decent trip from barrier four.

3:40pm R5 11 Exabelle (5 m Exceed and Excel - Avabelle) - Mick Dee (a2); got back in the field and set alight at the 700 metres she was shunted very wide which took its toll on Dec. 18 in the Benchmark 65 2000 metres at Matamata. She strikes a softer line-up here over 1800 metres and could produce an improved performance if able to secure some economy in the run from barrier eight.

4:52pm R7 2 Stanica Star (7 g Danzero - Stanica) - Mick Dee (a2); has registered consecutive wins with this rider aboard at New Plymouth, the most recent when beating a small but select field in the Benchmark 85 1800 metres on Dec. 23. Backing up a week later in the Taupo Cup (Benchmark 85, 1950m), he again faces a field of only eight. Like all horses coming to this venue, he can prove competitive provided an appreciation for the track.