Te Akau Te Teko Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses racing on Monday 29 January at Te Teko.

As on Sunday 28 January the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail true. Showers forecast Sunday, fine race day.

12.52 p.m. R1 5 Lady Painton (5 m Tavistock - Lady Verify) - Cameron Lammas; was caught wide in a strong field for the NZB Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres on 12 January at Matamata, having resumed off a lengthy injury layoff with a good sixth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 14 December at Hastings. A 15-length Maiden winner over 1400 metres in 2015 at Waipa, she can return an improved performance from barrier two in the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres.

2.37 p.m. R4 1 Motivation (3 g Mastercraftsman - Tenacity) - Michael McNab; never found a lot in the Rating 65 1600 metres on Dead6 ground at Tauranga, and has the addition of blinkers in the corresponding event. Fourth in the Trevor Eagle Memorial (Listed, 1500m) at Ellerslie, following a dominant debut win in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres in November at Te Aroha, his ability goes unquestioned and he receives a chance to turn things around from barrier four.

3.12 p.m. R5 6 Princess Davone (5 m Iffraaj - Nikey Davone) - Tegan Newman (a3); fought hard for a close second to race rival Libretti (Darci Brahma) on 4 January in the Rating 75 2000 metres at Thames, with Newman aboard, continuing her solid form. Drawn the outside of seven runners in the $20,000 Rating 75 2100 metres, she has a handy weight (54.5kgs) advantage over her rivals.

3.47 p.m. R6 6 Elegant D'Oro (4 m Medaglia d'Oro - Elegant Fashion) - Michael McNab; was unable to make up leeway on the leading division in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 11 January at Wanganui. She followed a resolute win in December at Waipukurau, finishing solidly for third at Rotorua, has the richness in pedigree and racing style to suggest stepping in distance should prove ideal in the $10,000 Rating 65 2100 metres.

4.57 p.m. R8 5 Bak Da Master (3 g Mastercraftsman - Bak Da Princess) - Michael McNab; lengthened stride very well when closing strongly for third in the Maiden 1400 metres on 20 December at Matamata, and again ran a close third in the Maiden 1600 metres on the same course 17 days ago. He can overcome a wide draw in the $10,000 Maiden 2000 metres and has the pedigree to appreciate stepping in distance.