Te Akau Tauranga Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has two horses entered for the eight-race programme on Friday December 12 at Tauranga.

As on Thursday December 11 the conditions were: drizzling and Dead5, rail out 5.5 metres.

3.25 p.m. R5 4 Flirty Gertey (4 m Thorn Park - Granma Gertey) - Brendan Hutton (a2); came from sixth, getting away from her rivals late in the piece for a fresh up win in the Rating 75 1400 metres at Matamata. In preparation to resume off 186-days, she had been eye-catching in the manner of her third to O'Marilyn (O'Reilly) in a trial at Te Awamutu. Again contesting the Rating 75 1400 metres, she carries a similar weight (55.5kgs), courtesy of a two-kilo apprentice claim, and rates a leading chance from barrier eight in a comparable line up.

5.10 p.m. R8 22 Opulent (3 f Keeper - Silk Slipper) - Matt Cameron; is sixth on the ballot and unlikely to gain a start. She is also entered for Sunday at Ellerslie, but drawn very wide and more than likely would instead race in the Maiden 1600 metres next Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Matamata.