Racing: Diverse stable quartet in hunt for Tauranga success

If she doesn't go home with a couple of winners from Tauranga today, Matamata trainer Katrina Alexander will at least have a lot more answers.

Despite their raps around the stable, Alexander admits a few raceday questions still hang over her talented line-up - Afijiholiday (race 2), Imshi Tawakel (r7), Spin (r8) and Annie Bee (r10).

Spin, a long-range New Zealand St Leger prospect, is the safest bet and the pick of the quartet for Alexander against moderate opposition in the R76 2170m contest.

The Spinning World mare has shaken off the knock that saw her late scratched during Ellerslie's Christmas carnival after a bloody bump to a leg in the back parade ring.

"She's definitely knocking on the door for another win," said Alexander.

"She galloped well during the week and is not far off scoring again."

Spin's scariest opponent this time is the barrier.

She's been a notoriously slow beginner lately but Alexander is hoping rider Cameron Lammas can finally get her to jump with the field today.

Alexander has the exact opposite problem with Annie Bee, who meets equally average rivals in the last.

She quit maidens at Te Aroha like a horse going right through to black type company.

But the three-year-old filly, who Alexander describes as stubborn by nature, gets so fired up from the jump the danger is that she'll have nothing left when it counts against stronger company.

Compounding that chink is that she's again drawn a wide alley today, a potential death-knell around Tauranga's long swooping final bend.

"I'd like to be able to teach her to settle a bit, but from that wide draw we may have no choice but to go forward again," said Alexander.

"I'm not sure yet what the game plan will be, but on galloping ability, if things go her way she's definitely a chance

If she gets off the ballots, staying filly Imshi Tawakel gives Alexander a strong third-string chance in race seven.

Forget she went round last last time out at Taupo; she was skittled so badly at the jump, Alexander expected her to be pulled up.

Although still a shade on the timid side, if she gets a cart along early Imshi Tawakel showed enough in her previous runs to be a nice outside hope.

Alexander said race two emergency Afijiholiday was still in "la la land" on raceday, but has been running some impressive times at home.

"She can be a difficult ride.

"She needs to be handy and run along with other horses, otherwise if she gets back she tends to get a bit lost."