Te Akau Taupo Tuesday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 15 horses entered on Tuesday 7 February at Taupo. 

Weather: overcast, track: Soft7, rail: true. 5mls rain forecast Monday and no rain Tuesday.

1:19 p.m. R3 5 Royalz (3 f Almanzor - Lady Royale) - Warren Kennedy; she fought hard for a close second in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on Boxing Day at Otaki, and same again on unsuitable Heavy10 footing in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 11 January at Matamata. She rates a top three chance with luck from her wide draw (11) in the $14,000 NZB Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus).

1:19 p.m. R3 10 Can't Kach Me (3 f Tavistock - Kachina) - Opie Bosson; she finished fifth on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 23 December at Matamata, and was good through line in the Maiden 3YO 1300 metres on 18 January at Te Rapa. She can improve further, but also requires luck from her wide draw (12) in the $14,000 NZB Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres.

1:54 p.m. R4 12 Marvelouz (3 f Almanzor - Miraculous Miss) - Warren Kennedy; she finished a close second in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and fought hard for second after working three wide on pace in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres on 11 January at Matamata. Ideally drawn (4) in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres, she presents as a top three chance.

1:54 p.m. R4 13 Zakaya (3 f Reliable Man - Zarzing) - Opie Bosson; she provided a Te Akau trifecta when finishing third on heavier footing than she prefers in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 11 January at Matamata, won by Freeze Frame (Vadamos), and contests the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres. She ran home solidly when resuming here in September and looks a top three prospect but will need plenty of luck from her wide draw (11). 

2:29 p.m. R5 10 Tavernia (3 f Mongolian Khan - Chaparella) - Opie Bosson; she was not far away in the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 17 December at Te Rapa, and was the same again in the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) on 14 January at Trentham, won brilliantly by stable-mate Cognito (So You Think). Dropping back in class for the $14,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, she has top three prospects. 

2:29 p.m. R5 11 Sicilian Dream (4 m Dream Ahead - Taormina) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); she made ground from last when resuming in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and also contests the $14,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, She seems capable of improvement with weight relief to 54.5kg and has drawn the ace.

2:29 p.m. R5 12 Devoted (5 g Contributer - Mapmaker) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he ran home fine over a sprint trip in a trial on 17 January at Tauranga, and resumes in the $14,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. This race will be more like a second trial and he is expected to require further.

3:04 p.m. R6 1 Sky On Fire (2 f Exceed and Excel - Elusive Meteor) - Opie Bosson; she capped two seconds with victory in the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) during Cup Week at Riccarton - the eighth for Te Akau, and resumed with a solid fourth in the Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on 14 January at Trentham. She has the pace to get handy and is well placed to fight out a top three finish in the $14,000 2YO 1100 metres.

3:04 p.m. R6 10 Zourian (2 f Zoustar - Irion) - Warren Kennedy; she jumped smartly to lead and looked good in her stylish solitary trial win on 17 January at Tauranga, and debuts in the $14,000 2YO 1100 metres. She harks from a great family and is capable of making her presence felt at the business end. 

3:43 p.m. R7 6 Florencenightngale (4 m Rip Van Winkle - Reigning Dynasty) - Opie Bosson; she shared the pace before finishing sixth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 25 January at Matamata, and drops back in distance for the $14,000 Rating 60 1200 metres. She was good winning on debut and is looking to recapture that form. 

4:21 p.m. R8 5 Believe It Or Not (3 g Star Witness - Believe You Me) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); he ran home solidly for fourth in a trial on 17 January at Tauranga, and resumes in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. With weight relief to 56kg, he appears capable of bold showing but will need plenty of luck from his wide draw (13).

4:21 p.m. R8 6 Insatiable (3 g All Too Hard - All Day Baby) - Opie Bosson; he got back and was tight for room in the straight when fifth on debut in the Maiden 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua. He looked good winning a trial here as two-year-old, does show ability and looks a top three prospect but it yet another who will need things to go his way from a wide draw (11) in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres.

4:21 p.m. R8 7 Spellcraft (3 g Savabeel - Bewitching) - Craig Zackey; he made good ground near the rail to snatch third in a trial on 17 January at Tauranga, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. He is likely to settle back from his tricky gate(9), but look for him running home solidly.

4:21 p.m. R8 12 Firriato (3 f Almanzor - Deliciano) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she found the line for fifth when debuting in the Maiden 1100 metres here on 30 December and contests the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Her dam Deliciano (Darci Brahma) won six races from 1800m - 2100m. 

4:21 p.m. R8 13 Iff I Get Paaid (3 f Iffraaj - Vernal) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); she resumes without a trial in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. She faces a softer assignment than her two-year-old races and is presented with the opportunity to improve.