Te Akau Te Rapa Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has eight horses entered on Wednesday 2 February at Te Rapa (twilight meeting).

Weather: fine, track: Dead4, rail: true. No rain forecast.

2:09 p.m. R2 1 Badgeringdawitness (4 g Reliable Man - Ebony and Ivory) - Opie Bosson; was caught out off a wide gate before finishing fifth in a Maiden 1400 metres on 12 January at Matamata, and is suited stepping up in the $12,000 Maiden 1600 metres. He rates a first four prospect from barrier seven inn a race with two stable runners.

2:09 p.m. R2 14 Savasilk (3 f Savabeel - Silk Pins) - Joe Kamaruddin (a2); found one better when second to impressive winner Glory Bound (Tavistock) in a Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 12 January at Matamata. Ideally drawn (2), with weight relief to 54kg, she rates a top three chance in the $12,000 Maiden 1600 metres.

2:45 p.m. R3 7 Fierce Flight (3 g Flying Artie - First Bloom) - Opie Bosson; did well for fourth when debuting in a Maiden 1400 metres on 6 January at Rotorua.  He requires luck from his wide draw (14) in the $12,000 Maiden 1600 metres but a similar effort would promote him to a top three prospect - in another race with two stable reps.

2:45 p.m. R3 13 La Flora Belle (4 m Iffraaj - Tsarina Belle) - Sam Weatherley; sustained a strong gallop to win at the trials on 21 December at Ellerslie, before resuming with notable third off a wide trip in a Maiden 1400 metres on 3 January at Te Aroha. She rates a top three prospect, is suited stepping up in the $12,000 Maiden 1600 metres.

3:55 p.m. R5 9 Top Note (3 f Burgundy - Arpeggio) - Opie Bosson; ranged into contention and was held together nicely for second when trialling on 11 January at Cambridge (poly-track), and debuts in the $12,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. By fast stallion Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), she is from a talented Tavistock (Montjeu) filly that impressed winning four times over 1200 metres. She requires luck from her difficult draw (12), but look for her to be getting home strongly.

5:02 p.m. R7 9 Illicit Miss (3 f Hinchinbrook - Unlawful) - Opie Bosson; finished second following an economical trip in a Maiden 1400 metres on 20 December at Pukekohe, and closed strongly late for second again in a Maiden 1600 metres on 9 January at Ellerslie. She can figure in the finish in the $12,000 Maiden 1600 metres, drawn handily in barrier five.

5:34 p.m. R8 9 The Perfect Pink (3 f Savabeel - The Solitaire) - Opie Bosson; headed home a Te Akau first four with a strong finish in 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) during Cup Week at Riccarton, and resumed with a close second to subsequent impressive Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) winner La Crique (Vadamos) in a 3YO 1500 metres on 9 January at Ellerslie. From impressive stakes' winner The Solitaire (O'Reilly) (10 wins 1200m - 2400m), she rates a top three prospect despite drawing the outside (10) in the $110,000 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m). Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.25.

6:09 p.m. R9 1 Rip Van Gogh (4 g Rip Van Winkle - On the Move) - Opie Bosson; galloped home solidly for second at the trials on 21 December at Ellerslie, and ran well for second to stable-mate Highborn (Savabeel) in a Maiden 1200 metres on 12 January at Matamata. He can finish in the first four with luck from a wide draw (10) in the $12,000 Maiden 1300 metres.