Te Akau Tauranga Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on Friday 9 December at Tauranga.

Weather: raining, track: Soft6, rail: out 2 metres. 15mls rain forecast Friday.

2:53 p.m. R4 9 Zakaya (3 f Reliable Man - Zarzing) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she pulled way up outside leader and remained resolute for second in the Maiden 1400 metres on 15 November at Rotorua, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1600 metres. She made ground from a long way back here over 1200 metres in October, has a good affinity with the course and rates a top three chance - one of two in the race for the team.

2:53 p.m. R4 14 Princess Jasmine (3 f Satono Aladdin - She's Insatiable) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); she finished fifth after racing handily on Heavy8 in Maiden 1400 metres on 15 November at Rotorua, and also contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1600 metres. She has weight relief to 53.5kg and is provided with the opportunity to improve further from barrier five.

3:31 p.m. R5 16 Dame County (4 m Contributer - Dame Mapperley) - Sam Weatherley; she was unable to quicken when resuming on Heavy8 in the Maiden 1230 metres on 15 November at Rotorua, and contests the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres. She trialled well prior to racing, has the blinkers on, and also is given the opportunity to improve if appreciative of the footing.

4:09 p.m. R6 8 Patriarca (4 m Savabeel - Baby Shacks) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she raced very well off a wide trip for second when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 16 September at Taupo, before missing the start in the Maiden 1400 metres on 8 October at Matamata, won by dual stakes' placed stable-mate Romancing The Moon (El Roca). She remained back in a 1000-metre trial on 29 November at Avondale, but seems capable of a bold showing in the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres - one of two for the team.

4:09 p.m. R6 9 It's Business Time (4 m Turn Me Loose - Risque Business) - Craig Grylls; she worked outside the leader before a debut fifth to subsequent Wellington Stakes' (Gr. 3, 1600m) winner Devastate (Vadamos) in the Maiden 1300 metres 29 October at Matamata, and likewise contests the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres. She is another that requires luck from a difficult gate (14).

4:44 p.m. R7 13 Off To The Nunnery (3 f Turn Me Loose - Clos De Tart) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she was caught three wide and kept finding to finish close up among the minors in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and also debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. She let down well to win her previous (11 Oct.) trial at Waipa, her dam Clos De Tart (Darci Brahma) won on debut over 1200 metres and she hails from a talented family - one of three for the stable lining up.

4:44 p.m. R7 17 Angel Wings (3 f Heroic Valour - Gowana) - Sam Weatherley; she rallied well for fifth in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. By Te Akau trained Group One winning sire Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock), her dam Gowana won over 1100 metres and already left listed winner and twice Group One placed Harmony Rose (Glass Harmonium). She is ideally drawn in barrier four.

4:44 p.m. R7 18 Kith ‘n' Kin (3 f Almanzor - Kindred) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); she tracked through solidly for fourth in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. Her dam Kindred impressed winning over 1400 metres, she requires luck from the wide draw (11) but shapes to race well if appreciative of the footing.

5:19 p.m. R8 13 Sorcha (3 f Burgundy - Niamh Elizabeth) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); she cleared the pack to finish nicely for third in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. She is a sister to dual winner and stakes' placed stable-mate Irish Red, from the winning Per Incanto (Street Cry) mare Niamh Elizabeth, herself a half-sister to stakes' winner Thrive (Colombia), also both trained by Te Akau. She has weight relief to 53kg and the credentials to race well first-up.

5:19 p.m. R8 19 Alminette (3 f Burgundy - High Heels) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she quickened when asked to finish third in a trial on 29 November at Avondale, and debuts in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres. She harks from a classy family of Group One winner Veloce Bella (Volksraad), but is required to handle the rain-affected footing.

6:31 p.m. R10 5 Hayate (4 m Maurice - Vamoose) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); she fought well for fourth in the Rating 60 1400 metres last Thursday at New Plymouth, and contests the $14,000 Rating 60 1300 metres. She won her Maiden over 1200 metres on Soft5 going in May at Matamata, has weight relief to 56kg, and is capable of a good effort if appreciative of the course at her first attempt.

7:11 p.m. R11 3 Fierce Flight (4 g Flying Artie - First Bloom) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); he proved too strong winning the Rating 60 2100 metres here on 19 October and, given time (51 days), contests the $14,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. He won his Maiden over 1600 metres on a Soft5 track in February at Hastings, enjoys weight relief to 57.5kg and possesses the right credentials to race well with luck from awkward barrier (13).