Racing: German-bred mare seeks double

Fairfield Flame is German-bred and it's fair to say not many of that ilk have won races at Rotorua.

The classy Matamata-trained mare is likely to show she's up to proving they're well capable of doing it in the Iles Casey Accountants 1950m this afternoon at the Arawa Park course.

There is a multinational feel.

Fairfield Flame is by an English sire, from an Irish mare and was ridden two starts ago by Hong Kong apprentice Vincent Ho.

In Britain, she was ridden three times by Alan Munro, who has spent time riding in New Zealand.

The training of Paul Moroney and riding of Cory Parish today is the New Zealand element.

And if Fairfield Flame is in the same shape as the last time she fronted at Rotorua - her last start was her third in New Zealand - she will be awfully difficult to beat.

She was caught out wide from an outside barrier last start and Craig Grylls decided to take her to the front a fair way from the finish to avoid the extra ground being covered.

It might not have mattered what he had done because Fairfield Flame ran away to win untested by four lengths.

She jumps up a rating band to R80 for this, but she looks capable of coping. The danger might be Pure Timing. She dropped out to finish at the back of the field last start, but it might pay to forget that run.

Go instead on her 1-length third at her previous start to Keeperinthemyst and Heat Haze, both of whom would win this race easily.

Ginga Dude, the topweight for Saturday's $125,000 DHL Counties Cup, has been unfortunate enough to have drawn barrier No 17.

His two main rivals appear to be Boundless and Sandhawk, the pair who beat him into third in the $70,000 Nicholas Feuillitte Stakes at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup Day.

They have drawn barriers (No 6) (Boundless) and No 1.

The Ellerslie race last start was run at weight-for-age and this race is a handicap. The weight differential as a result is fascinating.

Acceptances for the feature races at Pukekohe on Saturday are:

NRM/Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, 1400m.- Culminate (13), Ruud Van Slaats (16), Veloce Bella (8), Ististar (10), Striker (15), Tootsie (5), Bella Renza (3), Attalla (12), Ebony Babe (7), Casabella Lane (6), Dashing Donna (14), Keepa Cruisin (4), Ekstreme (2), Spirits Bay (11), Frivolous (9), Scarlet Vanhara (1), Commie Star (emg) (17) 57.

DHL Counties Cup, 2100m.- Ginga Dude (17) 58, Boundless (6), Sand Hawk (1) 56, Casa de Campo (12) 55, Occidentalis (10) 54.5, High Octane (14), Gasnier (5) 53.5, Shining Light (18) 53, Agamemnon (20), Il Bacaro (7), Ima Lady (2) 52, Jungle Rocket (4), Solid Billing (19) 51.5, Go Danny (11), Shi Kin Fly (15), Fiorano (3) 51. Emgs: Lady Lucille (13), Just Once (8), Lofty (9), The Missing Link (16) 51.

Counties Bowl, 1100m.- Richard Beymer (2) 58.5, Accardo (6) 56.5, Jazzella (12) 54.5, Raid (13) 54, Albercheno (7), Attackum (9) 53, Magic Tryst (8), Mallinson Road (5), Yelracm (1), Volitant (4), Just A Whisper (11), Denver (3), High Priest (10) 52.

ROTORUA TODAY


* Multinational Fairfield Flame appeals in the feature race.


* She bolted in by four lengths on the course last start.


* That win did not suggest a rise in rating class would hamper the German-bred mare.


* Ginga Dude has drawn wide at No 17 in Saturday's $125,000 DHL Counties Cup.