Te Akau Tauranga Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has four horses racing on Friday 19 January at Tauranga.

As on Thursday 18 January the conditions were: overcast and Good3, rail true. 20mls rain forecast Thursday, 40mls race day.

2.32 p.m. R4 4 Beaumarchais (4 g Savabeel - Almaviva) - Opie Bosson; sat comfortably outside the leader when finishing second in the Rating 85 1480 metres on 31 December at Stratford, having ran a respectable last 600m (34.5) in the Rating 85 1400 metres on 25 November at Pukekohe, won by Love Affair (Savabeel). He produced a slashing performance for fourth to stable-mate Gingernuts (Iffraaj) in the New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), before a close second in the Manawatu Classic (Gr. 3, 2000m) to end his three-year-old season, and appears ideally suited stepping in distance for the $30,000 Rating 85 2100 metres.

3.42 p.m. R6 12 Unfazed (4 m Zabeel - Fazed) - Michael McNab; continued her solid form with a close fourth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 27 December at New Plymouth, after not having much room when fifth here on 15 December in the Rating 65 1600 metres, with McNab aboard. She possesses a strong finish and although barrier 15 makes it awkward can still rate an each way chance in the $22,500 Rating 65 1400 metres.

4.52 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 followed with a close fourth off the trail here in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 2 January. Increasing distance in the $22,500 Rating 65 1600 metres appears ideal for him to again rate an each way chance.

4.52 p.m. R8 6 Motivation (3 g Mastercraftsman - Tenacity) - Opie Bosson; got back in the same race as stable-mate Griffin (above) here on 2 January, running home in a faster time (35.1) than the pacemaker and eventual winner. Fourth in the Trevor Eagle Memorial (Listed, 1500m) at Ellerslie, following a dominant debut win in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 14 November at Te Aroha, he too can threaten, up in distance, from barrier two in the $22,500 Rating 65 1600 metres.