By MIKE DILLON
A week ago Stephen Autridge rated Ballina Kate ahead of last Saturday's brilliant Highview Stakes winner Singalong.
Which puts Ballina Kate in with a great chance in the $25,000 Lindauer Guineas Trial at Ellerslie tomorrow.
Ballina Kate has yet to win a race, but her last-start close third to two smart sorts in Willie Capone and Vulpix at Hastings was several grades up from a maiden win.
She was also unlucky not to win that race. Unlucky in that rider Mark Du Plessis had trouble keeping the filly from ducking in towards the running rail when lodging the challenge.
"She's always been a slow learner," said Autridge yesterday, "But she's getting there."
The Hastings run was Ballina Kate's first for six months and Autridge says the filly's fitness has improved.
Crucial to the result tomorrow will be barrier draws. The Ellerslie rail is back in the true position for the first time in months, the footing should be just easy at worst.
Ballina Kate has drawn barrier 5 and is likely to receive the run of the race.
Fellow Matamata filly Mi Centie has drawn the gate inside Ballina Kate and being an on-pace runner, will use the advantage.
Mi Centie looked very good in only four starts as a juvenile last season and showed she was ready to resume racing after a Taupo trials win.
Not so fortunate in the draw were High Reason (17) and Secret, who will come out of the outside gate.
Both have the credentials to win, but luck will play a major part in their results. High Reason's fourth in the Wanganui Guineas was a lot better than it looked. He got too far off the pace and was making ground well on a track which did not lend itself to back runners.
Don't be put off by the fact Secret's two wins have been on heavy footing. He will be fitter for his second to Kate Lorimer here a couple of weeks ago and if he can find any luck from his horror barrier, he can be right in the finish.
Marscay filly Sheez Zocay created an impression with her runaway Ruakaka debut win. She will need to be lengths better again to win this, particularly from her unfortunate No 14 barrier, but she clearly has plenty of ability.
So does Avondale debut winner Labanon, yet another to suffer in the barrier draw.
Queen Elizabeth winner Magic Winner looks good to take the first leg of the TAB double, the Body Bronze Handicap.
He did well to finish a good first-up third to The Blazer in the weight-for-age 1600m at Wanganui and stepped his fitness up with a solid 1800m trials win at Taupo.
Windsor Phew likes Ellerslie and should be ready for the 2100m after a sprint and a metric mile following a break.
Racing: Slow learner could be close to top of class
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