Te Akau Tauranga Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Tuesday 2 January at Tauranga.

As on Monday 1 January the conditions were: cloudy and Dead5, rail true. 3mls rain forecast race day.

2.12 p.m. R3 4 Master Painton (3 g Reliable Man - Abbey Tralae) - Opie Bosson; was much more in keeping with his potential here on 15 December in the Maiden 1400 metres, mounting a strong finish from seven lengths off the pace to finish second. Any improvement would see him a solid chance from barrier four in the $10,000 Maiden 1600 metres.

2.47 p.m. R4 1 Scrutinize (5 g Savabeel - Legs) - Opie Bosson; looked good in his action during an exhibition gallop here on 15 December, and resumes off a lengthy spell in the $11,000 Rating 75 1300 metres. Carrying 59.5kgs and giving plenty of weight to some talented rivals stiffens the task, but barrier two ensures an economical run and he has a class factor.

5.13 p.m. R8 3 Griffin (3 g Iffraaj - Double Elle) - Michael McNab; resumed with a top run for third in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 23 December at Te Rapa, and ideally drawn (3) in the $10,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. Fifth in the El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m), and fourth in the Sacred Falls Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m), through the spring at Hastings, and freshened after the Sarten Memorial (Gr. 2, 1400m) in October at Te Rapa, his form warrants plenty of respect.

5.13 p.m. R8 5 Motivation (3 g Mastercraftsman - Tenacity) - Opie Bosson; followed a dominant debut win in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 14 November at Te Aroha, with fourth in the Trevor Eagle Memorial (Listed, 1500m) at Ellerslie, and given time since (31 days) he contests the $10,000 Rating 65 1300 metres. Although drawn awkwardly (10), he can find a position from which to threaten.