Te Akau Te Rapa New Year's Day Preview

Te Akau Racing has 17 horses entered on Sunday 1 January at Te Rapa.

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: out 3 metres. No rain forecast.

12:43 p.m. R1 2 Sophisticardo (4 g Burgundy - Glamorous Girl) - Opie Bosson; he was given time (43 days) since easing down on heavy ground in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 19 November at Pukekohe, and resumes in the $65,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. His prior two starts, including flying home to win the Rating 75 1200 metres on 29 October at Awapuni, were tops. His two course attempts have been fine and look for him finishing strongly - one of three in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.

12:43 p.m. R1 6 Cote de Beaune (4 g Burgundy - Lucrative) - Joe Kamaruddin (a1); he made good ground from last in the Rating 75 1200 metres here on 10 December, and steps up in the $65,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. A previous course winner, he won three of five starts last season and appears suited to the increase in distance. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

12:43 p.m. R1 10 Shepherd's Delight (4 m Rip Van Winkle - Safari Sunset) - Michael McNab; she was good late from last in the Hallmark Stud Handicap (Listed, 1200m) on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, won impressively by stable-mate Synchronize (Savabeel). Prior to that, she ran out of room near the rail in the Rating 65 1400 metres here on 26 November and is capable of racing well in the $65,000 Rating 75 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.40.

1:16 p.m. R2 1 Trobriand (2 c Kermadec - Arboreal) - Opie Bosson; he led throughout to score comfortably when debuting in the 2YO 1200 metres on 28 October at New Plymouth, and made it two from two in terrific style in the 2YO 1100 metres here on 10 December. He rates a top three chance in the $140,000 Carlaw Park Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) one of three stable contenders. Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.20.

1:16 p.m. R2 2 Balance Of Power (2 c Almanzor - Respin) - Michael McNab; he franked a good third when debuting in the 2YO 1000 metres here on 22 October, with a strong finish for second in the Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on 19 November at Pukekohe. Going well, he rates a top three prospect in the $140,000 Carlaw Park Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $2.10.

1:16 p.m. R2 4 Talisker (2 g Embellish - Glenkinchie) - Sam Weatherley; he formed a Te Akau trifecta when third here on debut to stable-mate and subsequent winner Tokyo Tycoon (Satono Aladdin). An athletic gelding, he appears capable of another bold showing with decent trip from barrier seven in the $140,000 Carlaw Park Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m). Fixed odds: $14.00 & $3.00.

1:49 p.m. R3 1 Dynastic (3 g Almanzor - Meir) - Opie Bosson; he ran home strongly for third to stable-mate Wild Night (Vanbrugh) in the Sarten Memorial Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) here in October, and was freshened following a notable effort in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 5 November at Riccarton. Freshened, he was doing his best work through line in 1000-metre trial on 23 December at Matamata, and resumes in the $140,000 Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas (Gr. 2, 1600m). Drawn the ace, he rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $1.65.

2:55 p.m. R5 3 Skew Wiff (3 f Savabeel - Starvoia) - Opie Bosson; she produced a mighty run for second to Legarto (Proisir) in the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, and steps up in the $140,000 Elsdon Park Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m). A quality filly, she is ideally drawn (4), and rates a top three prospect - one of three for Te Akau . Fixed odds: $2.80 & $1.40.

2:55 p.m. R5 5 Family Ties (3 f Contributer - Glamazon) - Sam Weatherley; she scored comfortably in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 13 November at Hastings, and strong late for fifth to race rival Polygon (Highly Recommended) in the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) here on 17 December. She is suited stepping in trip for the $140,000 Elsdon Park Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) and is ideally drawn (3) to race well. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00.

2:55 p.m. R5 14 Safura (3 f Almanzor - Corsage) - Dean Yendall; she stretched out nicely for second in the Maiden 1600 metres on 23 December at Matamata, and steps up in the $140,000 Elsdon Park Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m). Suited by the trip and the good ground, she nonetheless requires luck from her wide draw (12). Fixed odds: $31.00 & $6.00.

3:30 p.m. R6 1 Wairau Cove (3 g Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass) - Kelsey Hannan (a2); he ended his previous campaign with a top run for second in the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) here in April, was spelled, and remained resolute when running on for third in trial on 23 December at Matamata. Resuming in the $65,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, he has weight relief to 59.5kg, is a talented galloper and rates a top three chance with luck from his wide draw (11) - one of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $3.60 & $1.65.

3:30 p.m. R6 5 Malborough Bay (3 g Darci Brahma - Spin ‘N Grin) - Opie Bosson; he was freshened following the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 5 November at Riccarton, and was doing his best work through the line in 1000-metre trial on 23 December at Matamata. Also resuming in the $65,000 Rating 65 1200 metres, he is capable of a bold showing with a decent trip from an awkward gate (10). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.30.

4:05 p.m. R7 3 Imperatriz (4 m I Am Invincible - Berimbau) - Opie Bosson; she was freshened following the Arrowfield Stud Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) in October at Matamata, and stretched out nicely for a close second in a trial on 23 December at Matamata. A class mare - dual Group One winner - she is unbeaten in three course attempts, acts well fresh, and rates a top three chance despite her (another) awkward draw (10). Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.70.

4:40 p.m. R8 4 Self Obsession (4 m Shocking - Mawaakib) - Michael McNab; she recorded two good seconds before finishing back on rain-affected footing in the Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m) here on 17 December. She tied with stable-mate Belle En Rouge (Burgundy) for New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, won the David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) here, and is capable of bouncing back in the $200,000 Windsor Park Stud Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m) - one of stable duo. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.

4:40 p.m. R8 5 Aromatic (6 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay) - Craig Grylls; she provided trainer Mark Walker his 100^thstakes' win in the Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m) on 19 November at Pukekohe, and finished third to race rival Viktor Vegas (Tavistock) in the Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m) here on 17 December. Going well, she rates a top three prospect in the $200,000 Windsor Park Stud Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m). Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.80.

5:13 p.m. R9 6 Campionessa (5 m Contributer - Bella Carolina) - Opie Bosson; she ended a terrific southern campaign after winning the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2500m) during Cup Week at Riccarton, and worked home okay over a sprint trip in a trial on 23 December at Matamata. A course/distance winner with great overall stats, she however requires luck from her !!! wide draw (15) in the $140,000 Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) - the first of a stable duo in this feature. Fixed odds: $7.50 & $2.70.

5:13 p.m. R9 13 Belle En Rouge (4 m Burgundy - Cavendish Belle) - Dean Yendall; she staged a huge run for fourth (fastest last 600m: 33.2 and 400m and 200m) in the Open 1400 metres on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, and also contests the $140,000 Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m). A brilliant New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner in March at Trentham, she tied for the prestigious NZB Filly of the Year title with stable-mate Self Obsession (above), and rates a top four chance if able to emulate her recent effort. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.