Racing: Ready to roar after long break

Let Me Roar (right) contests race 3 at Tauranga tomorrow. Photo / Race Images

Let Me Roar will have to overcome a minor setback in her lead-up preparation if she is to successfully defend her unbeaten record this weekend.

"She went to the trials at Rotorua, but a horse went off in the barrier next to her and hit her in the eye," said Andrew Forsman, who prepares the well-related mare with Murray Baker.

"Not having a trial after a long break isn't ideal, but we need to get her rolling."

The exciting Cambridge mare will be ridden by Jason Waddell when she steps out at Tauranga tomorrow in race 3, the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race.

A half-sister by Rip Van Winkle to the ill-fated dual group one winner Lion Tamer, Let Me Roar hasn't raced since she was successful at Te Rapa last May.

She had previously won on debut at Rotorua and subsequently posted consecutive victories at Pukekohe Park.

Meanwhile, another talented mare in the stable won't race again this season.

Francaletta looked to be on target for a lucrative campaign when she beat her well-performed stablemates Mime and Lizzie L'Amour at the Cambridge trials last month.

Unfortunately, the High Chaparral mare's progress has been halted by injury.

"She's had a few niggling knee issues so that's ended her autumn and we'll have another go with her in the spring," Forsman said.

Francaletta created a big impression last spring when she was successful on debut at Matamata before she won on two days of the Hawke's Bay carnival and then at Ellerslie.

- NZ Racing Desk