Te Akau Tauranga Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has eight horses racing on Thursday 27 April at Tauranga.

As on Wednesday 26 April the conditions were: fine and Dead6, rail out 10 metres. No rain forecast.

1.33 p.m. R5 9 Lady Amadeus (3 f Medaglia D'oro - Rialto Bridge) - Opie Bosson; was collared near the line after leading in the Maiden 1400 metres on 15 March at Matamata, following a brave fresh-up effort off a wide run for third over 1200 metres in February at Avondale. Drawn barrier five in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres, she brings good form and has blinkers on.

2.43 p.m. R7 7 Princess Davone (4 m Iffraaj - Nikey Davone) - Opie Bosson; has been freshened since a couple of starts on the East Coast circuit in February, where Heavy10 footing proved beyond her capabilities in the Poverty Bay Cup (Rating 85, 1600m). Stakes' placed five times as a three-year-old and twice a winner up to 1400 metres since then, she has a solid record on dead ground and can make her presence felt in the $10,000 Rating 75 1400 metres.

3.18 p.m. R8 4 Esprit De Corps (4 g Bel Esprit - Vercors) - Opie Bosson; made up good leeway on Dead6 footing when resuming with a strong finish for third in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 9 April at Pukekohe, and drawn barrier five in the $10,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. A natural improver for the run, he won his Maiden by nearly four lengths with give in the ground over 1400 metres and rates an each way chance again.

3.18 p.m. R8 6 Spritz (4 m Thorn Park - Spray) - Michael Coleman; freshened (64 days) since last racing in February at Avondale, and has drawn barrier one in the $10,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. She received no room when resuming in January at Wanganui, contested races won by handy types at her next two outings, and showed her ability when clearing Maidens in a Pearl Series race over 1600 metres.

3.18 p.m. R8 8 Abbey Kay (3 f Keeper - Abbey Tralae) - Michael McNab; freshened since winning over 1200 metres in January at Te Aroha, when coming from off the pace with a strong dash for McNab, and drawn barrier two in the $10,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. Both starts prior to winning had merit, her dam impressed winning up to 1400 metres, with give in the ground, and she has inherited a good mixture of grit and ability to quicken.

3.57 p.m. R9 6 Colorado Prince (3 g Alamosa - Sweet Dreams Baby) - Opie Bosson; has been freshened since a couple of starts on the East Coast circuit in February, and drawn barrier eleven in the $10,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. He won well on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 2 January at Tauherenikau, possesses plenty of galloping ability, combines with this rider for the first time, and can threaten if he puts it all together.

3.57 p.m. R9 9 Smoke House Bay (4 m Eighth Wonder - Makesmewonder) - Danielle Johnson; ran another very good race when closing from back in the field for third in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 9 April at Pukekohe, having produced a similar effort in the corresponding race there 18 days earlier. Drawn barrier six in the $10,000 Rating 65 1300 metres, she appears capable of forcing the issue in this field.

3.57 p.m. R9 12 Corporate Missile (3 f Smart Missile - Corporate) - Michael McNab; never backed up when produced seven days after a great fresh-up (130 days) performance for third over 1200 metres in February at Gisborne, and resumes off 60 days, from barrier five, in the $10,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. She is a capable filly and possesses genuine attributes to prove competitive.