Racing: Forecast rain won't suit Katie Lee at Pukekohe

Katie Lee wants to forget Melbourne. Photo / APN

Katie Lee is probably the only one of the main chances in tomorrow's $100,000 NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Pukekohe Park that won't be suited by forecast rain.

Pretty much all the other leading chances can handle at least some level of rain-affected surfaces.

Dancing Jess, She Rules, Casabella Lane, Pennacchio, Sharp Princess and Eileen Dubh have shown their best on slow or worse, yet have impressive form on top of the ground.

"Not greatly worried one way or another," said co-trainer Chris Bothwell of Dancing Jess, winner on a slow track of the Windsor Park Stakes at Hawera at her only appearance so far this season.

Underrated mare She Rules took a snail-like 1:48.46 to run the 1600m on a heavy Trentham surface last start, yet turned in a slick 1:11.72 to score over 1200m at Ruakaka two starts before that.

"I'd actually like to see some juice for her," said trainer Brett McDonald.

"I want the rain."

After a magnificent performance to come from an impossible position to win on the final day of the Hastings carnival, there were high hopes for Katie Lee to perform at the Melbourne spring carnival.

But she failed to flatter in the Tesio Stakes on Cox Plate day and was returned to New Zealand.

"You can probably forget she went around in Melbourne," said co-trainer Debbie Rogerson.

"They had rain in the morning, she got pole-axed at the start then galloped on.

"Nothing went to plan, so we brought her home. We're very happy with her, I just hope the [weather] forecast is wrong."

Pennacchio has been freshened since chasing Keep The Peace and then Wall Street home in the Mudgway Stakes then Windsor Park Plate over the Hastings carnival.

She finished a good fifth in the first of those and was then bogged down on the tricky track on the middle day.

Her form at the Queensland winter carnival was excellent and she is the type to win this at the right odds.

Eileen Dubh was not even the length of your arm behind Dancing Jess in third place at Hawera two starts back then had an easy kill under 59kg in R90 at Woodville.

Her best form has probably been on footing that tends more towards good than slow, but her form in the wet at Hastings was smart.

It was Sharp Princess that separated Dancing Jess and Eileen Dubh at Hawera. She found the bog that was Trentham last month way beyond her capabilities and you can forget that effort.

This is a very confusing race and one that conditions will very much have the final say in.