Te Akau Te Rapa Friday Preview

Te Akau Racing has 15 horses entered on Friday 3 February at Te Rapa.

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy9, rail: out 8 metres. 6mls rain forecast Thursday, 15mls Friday.

1:26 p.m. R2 8 Trieste (4 m Tivaci - Domani Oro) - Craig Zackey; she ran home well for third in a trial on 19 January at Tauranga, and resumes in the $14,000 Maiden 1300 metres. She has shown to prefer better footing so much will depend on her handling the track. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80. 

2:00 p.m. R3 7 Apollonius (3 g Fastnet Rock - Ciarlet) - Opie Bosson; he finished third in two recent trials on good footing, has won a trial here previously on Heavy8 going, and resumes in the $14,000 Maiden 1300 metres. He appears capable of improvement, but may appreciate better track conditions. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

2:33 p.m. R4 6 Puzzle Solved (3 f Rubick - Sandownboulevard) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she finished second to stable-mate Freeze Frame (Vadamos) on a Heavy10 track in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 11 January at Matamata, and contests the corresponding event. She is ideally drawn (4) to race well again. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

2:33 p.m. R4 9 Firriato (3 f Almanzor - Deliciano) - Opie Bosson; she found the line nicely for fifth when debuting in the Maiden 1100 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and also contests the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. Her dam Deliciano (Darci Brahma) won six races from 1800m - 2100m. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

3:08 p.m. R5 1 Hero Worship (4 g Xtravagant - Idol) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); he continued his good form with a notable effort for sixth in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and drops back in grade for the $14,000 Rating 65 1100 metres. With weight relief to 58kg, he has ability and tries hard, but requires luck from his wide draw (13). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

3:08 p.m. R5 4 I Choose You (3 f I Am Invincible - Choose) - Opie Bosson; she resumed on Heavy10 footing with an eye-catching fourth to stable-mate Bello Mio (Deep Field) in the Rating 65 1050 metres on 11 January at Matamata, and was badly checked mid-straight in the Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) won by stable-mate Maven Belle (Burgundy) on 21 January at Pukekohe. Dropping in class for the $14,000 Rating 65 1100 metres, she rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.70.

3:08 p.m. R5 5 Accidental Tourist (3 g Telperion - Megara) - Craig Zackey; he spelled following the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) in October at Hastings,and although laying in, he ran home well in a trial on 17 January at Tauranga. He proved accomplished on Heavy10 earlier in the season with an easy fresh-up victory in the Maiden 1200 metres at Hawera, was a good third in the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1340m), and is ideally drawn (2) to race well in the $14,000 Rating 65 1100 metres. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

3:08 p.m. R5 10 Off To The Nunnery (3 f Turn Me Loose - Clos De Tart) - Craig Grylls; she fought well on unsuitable Heavy9 footing in the Maiden 1200 metres on 9 December at Tauranga, and appreciated better footing with a very tough victory in the Maiden Fillies & Mares 1100 metres on 3 January at Matamata. She rises in grade, but a similar effort would make her competitive in the $14,000 Rating 65 1100 metres. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

3:44 p.m. R6 2 Invincibeel (4 m Savabeel - Matakana) - Opie Bosson; she was freshened following a nose margin second in the Rating 65 2000 metres during Cup Week at Riccarton, and mounted a big finish for a close second in a trial on 17 January at Tauranga. She won her Maiden here over 1600 metres, stretches out in trip, but is capable of a bold fresh-up performance in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Fillies & Mares Rating 65 1400 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70.

3:44 p.m. R6 6 Alminette (3 f Burgundy - High Heels) - Craig Grylls; she tried hard on Heavy9 with a debut third in the Maiden 1200 metres on 9 December at Tauranga, and led home a Te Akau trifecta in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 3 January at Matamata. Ridden assertively last time, she may attempt similar tactics despite her wide draw (11) in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Fillies & Mares Rating 65 1400 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

3:44 p.m. R6 7 Puketiro (3 f Savabeel - Matakana) - Craig Zackey; she raced clear to win by three lengths when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 30 December at Taupo, and steps up in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Fillies & Mares Rating 65 1400 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). Likely to prefer better footing, she brings a class factor and rates a top three prospect. Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75.

3:44 p.m. R6 9 Elounda (4 m Contributer - Nomisma) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); she was back throughout in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 3 January at Matamata, won by stable-mate Romancing The Moon (El Roca) in Te Akau trifecta. She suffered cardiac arrhythmia after winning over 1400 metres in November, but is capable of improvement with any luck from her tricky draw (10) in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Fillies & Mares Rating 65 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.80.

3:44 p.m. R6 10 Sicilian Dream (4 m Dream Ahead - Taormina) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); she made ground from last when resuming in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and contests the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Fillies & Mares Rating 65 1400 metres (eligible $13,000 bonus). She seems capable of improvement, has weight relief to 56.5kg, but requires a lot to go her way from barrier nine. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80.

4:54 p.m. R8 2 Dynastic (3 g Almanzor - Meir) - Opie Bosson; he resumed with a solid third in the Auckland Guineas (Gr. 2, 1600m) on 1 January at Te Rapa, and ran the fastest last 600m (34.0) coming from last in the $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) on 21 January at Pukekohe. Placed two from two on course, he has won on heavy going, and is ideally drawn (4) to handle stepping in distance for the $120,000 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m). Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

4:54 p.m. R8 12 Savoir Faire (3 g Savabeel - Etiquette) - Joe Kamaruddin (a); he scored a deserved success in the Maiden 2000 metres on 23 December at Matamata, before finishing sixth off a wide trip in the Gingernuts' Salver (Gr. 2, 2100m) on 8 January at Pukekohe. He requires a real rub of the green from his wide draw (11) in the $120,000 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m). Fixed odds: $21.00 & $6.00.