KEY POINTS:
Trainer Mark Walker can look forward at Te Rapa tomorrow to landing the win that eluded Polish Princess last start.
Two starts back classy mare Polish Princess turned in her career best effort when she was a close-up third behind Floydeboy in the group one $200,000 Champions Mile at Ellerslie.
As a result she was a warm favourite to take the fillies and mares race at Rotorua and although her effort was excellent, she came in third to Zerello.
The footing was officially rated as dead that day, but late in the meeting it was close to good and may have been a touch too firm for Polish Princess, who has yet to win a race on tracks rated officially good.
That shouldn't be an issue tomorrow.
Showers this week had the Te Rapa footing rated as 3.5 and dead mid-week and with little prospect of significant improvement, the track should be ideal for Polish Princess.
Three starts ago the European-bred mare finished a long neck from talented Bulginbaah at Awapuni, an effort that would see her win this.
Walker has a strong hand with Zamfir to back up Polish Princess. Zamfir was 3 3/4 lengths from Zerello in the Rotorua race, finishing on from the back on a day when on-pace runners seemed well suited.
She rates highly as a course and distance winner.
Quest For Kash got her favourite winter track conditions at Trentham last start and made the most of them with a close third to gallant winner Vegas Showgirl.
That race was at set weights and under handicap conditions she comes in better here with 53kg, compared to the 55.5kg she had at Trentham.
The wetter the better for Quest For Kash and further rain would assist her chances.
Luckshan could surprise even though tackling 1400m here after running in the 3200m Auckland Cup in March last start.
In May last year he won a pair of 1400m races on this track, in the second of them beating Del Toro and Pinprick.
Luckshan has won when resuming from a break and will appreciate the footing.
Hastings trainer Tim Symes is bringing The Veep north for the $25,000 Norris Ward Mackinnon 2000 because Te Rapa is a sand-slit surface.
Like many, Symes assumed The Veep was a natural mudder after terrific form on heavy tracks last winter - now he is changing his mind.
The Veep has a record of four wins and a minor placing from six starts on heavy footing.
"But when I look back now, he actually beat very little in terms of quality when he was winning all those races last winter," said Symes. "I'm hoping I'm not starting to make excuses for him, but I'm thinking he might prefer the ground not so heavy.
"He's won three at Palmerston North and that's a sand slit track the same as Te Rapa."
At his best The Veep would give this field a good shake.
Figure Of Speech had one run back from a spell in April and has not started since. He is a course and distance winner and handles winter tracks well.
Jovial Jock and Garden Party are chances.