Te Akau Tuesday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has nine horses racing at two venues on Tuesday 27 December.

Rotorua:

As on Monday 26 December the conditions were: overcast and Dead4, rail out 1 metre. No rain forecast.

1.07 p.m. R2 10 Abloom (3 f Darci Brahma - Corsage) - Cameron Lammas; got well back before running home in a respectable 33.8 for the last 600m when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1000 metres at Te Aroha, and appears ideally placed in the Maiden 3YO 1215 metres. From barrier five, with a tongue tie added to her gear, she should take up a handier position in a field where Collay (Makfi) is the likely favourite.

2.53 p.m. R5 4 Paradise Rock (4 g Fastnet Rock - Apple Charlotte) - Cameron Lammas; was ruled out of contention when the saddle slipped mid-race at New Plymouth, after dictating terms in front and proving far too good winning the Maiden 1560 metres here with Lammas aboard on 4 November. Up in grade, but over the same distance, his obvious appreciation for the course is a big advantage.

4.38 p.m. R8 2 Foreigner (3 g Savabeel - Pins on Ice) - Opie Bosson; gelded and freshened since last racing on 13 November at Waverley, with four starts yielding two seconds and two fourths, he comes into the Maiden 1400 metres off 44 days and has visor blinkers removed. Bred to stretch out over ground, the plan from a wide draw is to take a sit off the pace which should see him finishing powerfully.

4.38 p.m. R8 14 Scarlet Princess (3 f Redwood - Volks Princess) - Cameron Lammas; met an untimely check at the 400m on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres at Matamata, but still picked herself up and rounded off solidly for a notable fifth. She had very good trial form before commencing at the races and a touch of luck from barrier nine should make her competitive in what appears an even field for the Maiden 1400 metres.

New Plymouth:

As on Monday 26 December the conditions were: fine and Dead4, rail out 11 - 13 metres. No rain forecast.

12.50 p.m. R2 8 Nucleonic (2 f Burgundy - Mexican Rose) - Michael McNab; makes her debut from barrier eight in the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres. She displayed zip when fourth in a trial to subsequent dual stakes winning filly Gift of Power (Power) in August at Te Teko, and did everything professionally in front when winning her 810-metre trial by three and a half lengths at the same course on 22 November. Her dam, Mexican Rose (Volksraad) was champion 2YO & 3YO in Singapore, and the only two progeny by five-time stakes' winner Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), Hard Merchandize and Dijon Bleu, have both won. So it all stacks up for a much anticipated race.

1.25 p.m. R3 6 Abbey Kay (3 f Keeper - Abbey Tralae) - Michael McNab; displayed good grit to win a recent trial at Te Aroha, without being asked for anything too serious and makes her debut in the Maiden 1200 metres. Her dam, Abbey Tralae (Traditionally), won seven times, impressing over 1200 metres on good and slow going, and the indicators are there to suggest a bold first up performance.

2.00 p.m. R4 5 Stolen Love (3 f Savabeel - Steal) - Michael McNab; has continued to improve in each of her three starts, the most recent when working across outside the leader and finishing third to Wilijonmcbride (Red Giant) in the Maiden 1600 metres on 5 November at Te Rapa. Given time since, she comes off 52 days in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres and from barrier two should receive the run required to rate an each way chance.

2.35 p.m. R5 5 King Kane (3 g Showcasing - Vannista Belle) - Michael McNab; displayed good attributes when clearing Maidens as expected over a mile on 6 November at Hastings, but had no favours, back and wide, on deteriorating Slow8 going in the Wellington Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 25 November at Otaki, in a race dominated by horses handy to both the pace and rail. Looking to build in distance towards three-year-old staying events, he is back in class for the Rating 65 1400 metres, with visor blinkers off, where an economical trip from barrier three should see him finishing strongly.

3.10 p.m. R6 6 Kuia (3 f Guillotine - Triage) - Michael McNab; fought solidly for sixth after leading in the Maiden 1600 metres on 14 December at Matamata, after racing handily and finishing fifth on debut in the Maiden 1400 metres at Te Aroha. She looks nicely placed in the Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres to rate an each way chance.