Te Akau Tauranga Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 12 horses entered on Friday 13 January at Tauranga.

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy10, rail: out 5.5 metres. No rain forecast.

12:26 p.m. R1 7 Patriarca (4 m Savabeel - Baby Shacks) - Opie Bosson; she remained around midfield in the Maiden 1300 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and contests the $15,000 Maiden 1400 metres. She finished back on downgrading Heavy9 footing when resuming in the Maiden 1400 metres here on 9 December, so will be required to cop the footing - one of two in the event for the stable.

12:26 p.m. R1 9 Redsheis (3 f Burgundy - Show No Emotion) - Michael McNab; she did everything right when finishing third on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 23 December at Matamata, and emulated that effort in the corresponding race on 3 January. She is going well, but her handling of the prevailing track conditions will be paramount to her chances in the $15,000 Maiden 1400 metres.

1:02 p.m. R2 1 Valentine (2 g Turn Me Loose - Fastnet Rose) - Opie Bosson; he won a trial on 6 December at Waipa, and posted a good effort for second on debut in the 2YO 1100 metres on 17 December at Trentham. He shapes to race well again in the $15,000 Maiden 2YO 1200 metres.

1:37 p.m. R3 3 Wairau Cove (3 g Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass) - Opie Bosson; he ended his previous campaign with a top run for second in the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m), and resumed with a good effort from second last to finish sixth in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 1 January at Te Rapa. He steps up in grade for the $30,000 Rating 75 1200 metres, and is a talented galloper that has provided some evidence of coping with the footing to see him rate a top three chance.

1:37 p.m. R3 5 Millefiori (4 m Iffraaj - Miss Bluebell) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she has been given time (69 days) since contesting the Rating 75 1300 metres in November at Rotorua, and resumes without a trial in the $30,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. A course/distance winner as two-year-old that saw her gain entry to the and has shown the ability to act on rain-affected going.

2:12 p.m. R4 2 Pure Imagination (4 g Darci Brahma - Granadilla) - Craig Zackey; he battled over concluding stages when resuming in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and contests the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. Both of his wins were on soft ground and he receives opportunity to improve.

2:12 p.m. R4 5 Time Flies (3 g Time Test - Rorippa) - Opie Bosson; he produced a good effort to come from last for fourth to stable-mate Inca Belle (Per Incanto) in the 3YO 1200 metres on 26 November at Wanganui, and was similar again finishing fourth in the Rating 65 1200 metres on Boxing Day at Otaki. A consistent performer, he rates looks a top three prospect if appreciative of the conditions in the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres.

3:22 p.m. R6 5 Felicienne (4 m Savabeel - Flavigny) - Opie Bosson; she ran the fastest last 600m (34.0) on the day when finishing strongly from the rear, fresh-up, in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and steps up in the $30,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. The runner-up at her only course/distance attempt, she is terrifically consistent, and rates a top three chance.

4:02 p.m. R7 1 The Mighty Spar (5 g Savabeel - O'Dianne) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he got back and was easy late when resuming in the Rating 75 1600 metres, and steps up in the $30,000 Rating 75 2100 metres. A winner at 2000 metres, he has shown to handle some give in the ground, and is drawn (1) for an economical trip.

4:02 p.m. R7 3 Fierce Flight (4 g Flying Artie - First Bloom) - Opie Bosson; he did well for sixth on rain-affected Heavy9 footing when resuming in the Rating 65 1600 metres here on 9 December, and came from last to win the Rating 65 2000 metres on 23 December at Matamata. He was a course/distance winner in October, he presents as a top three chance.

4:35 p.m. R8 5 Soprano Supreme (5 m Contributer - Falsetto) - Michael McNab; she unleashed wide on track to win the Rating 75 2400 metres on 26 November at Te Rapa, and delivered a good third in the Manawatu Cup (Gr. 3, 2300m) on 17 December at Trentham. She has won twice on soft tracks, is going well, and is capable of a first three finish in the $40,000 Rating 87 1600 metres.

4:35 p.m. R8 7 Illicit Miss (4 m Hinchinbrook - Unlawful) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she did well with an interrupted passage from last when resuming in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 3 January at Matamata, and contests the $40,000 Rating 87 1600 metres. A consistent performer, she has drawn barrier one, and rates a top three chance if appreciative of the conditions.