Racing: Safari in the hunt at Rotorua

Indikator. Photo / Mark Mkeown

Safari in Race 8 at Rotorua today might just be one of those that goes straight through the grades.

On the occasions when he hasn't been unlucky as a back runner Safari has looked to have ability way above average.

Like last start at Hastings when he looked a doubtful chance at the 200m after being held up on the home bend. The finish he produced when Opie Bosson finally got in racing room was stylish.

Safari won on his only visit to the Rotorua track and the only question mark is if the track becomes as wet as the weather forecast suggests it might. Most of the horses by sire Jungle Pocket are reasonable on "off" tracks so he is worth the risk.

Appiel (No1, R3) is well named because she has plenty of it. Like Safari, her finishing bursts have been close to spectacular - when she won at Te Aroha two starts back she came from nowhere - and the small field is certainly going to help her style of racing. No worries here about the conditions of the track - she is unbeaten in three starts on slow or heavy. Lucy In Disguise (No3) was very impressive the way she finished off to win at Matamata last start, but may require the footing to be better than is forecast. If she's allowed to keep her place she's a must for all multiple bets.

This is the best field Quickasucan (No7, R4) has faced, but make no mistake, he's heading places when there is rain around. He displayed a huge amount of ticker to just scrape home at Ellerslie last start. Allende (No3) and Asgoodasitgets (No4) are in their best form and both handle wet ground well.

It would be justice if Master Zenno (No1, R5) gets the money after three seconds from his four starts. He should be suited by the tempo of this race. The wide draw looked bad on paper, but by the timing of this race being away from the inside rail might be the place to be. Knight In Leather (No5) looked good on debut and should be improved.

Roi d'Jeu (No4, R7) might prefer a slow track rather than heavy, but he's won once in the heavy stuff and he should cope if that's how the footing ends up. He has a very good finishing sprint when held up in running and looks well placed in this Rotorua Cup. Indikator (No2) has to give Roi d'Jeu 2.5kg, which won't be easy for him, but the way he won at Tauranga last start, he looks to have reached his full strength. Conditions will play a big part in what constitutes the dangers to this pair. Hawkes Bay Cup winner Don Domingo (No9) would prefer the track to be not too bad, where Headsup (No11) and Soph (No3) won't mind any rain.

The sprint is a terrific line-up. She Rules (No3, R9) has a great record second up from a spell. The wide gate late in the programme is probably going to be to her advantage and at level weights she looks well placed. Fleur De Lune (No13) is the interesting runner. She would have gone close to winning the group one Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha had the track been better. You worry about her if the footing gets too wet, but she might just skip through the ground if it's loose and that type of horse can be difficult to pick up at Te Aroha. She's too good to leave out. Tudor Bubble (No2) can run a race fresh and Bedlum (No5) will go around as the forgotten horse. She loves it wet and loose.

Like a lot of R70 races, the last is difficult. The value could be around Hula Belle (No10, R10), who looked ready to improve when fifth at Ellerslie last start. She has been placed at Rotorua and the wide gate in the last has appeal. Mr Kanton (No5) will be favourite and hard to beat.