Racing: Visitors ones to watch at Arawa Park

Whether it's the familiar left-handed way of racing or not, but Central Districts horses have a great record at Rotorua.

Three-year-old I Am Sam could give Taranaki a winning turn in Race 8, the Platinum Homes 1200, today.

I Am Sam has not raced since finishing well back in Katie Lee's 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in November and will find R80 at Arawa Park a bit different to that.

His two wins from four starts have both been on heavy surfaces, but fresh from a break today he should find sufficient yield to satisfy him.

The toughest for I Am Sam to head off could be a similarly fresh One Nite Stand and topweight Ameryllis.

Apprentice Alvin Ng will take Ameryllis' 59kg down to a more comfortable 56kg.

Another visitor, Vault, may be hard to beat in Race 7. He hasn't raced since December when, at only his second start, he finished a close up fourth in a strong 3-year-old race at Awapuni, behind King Raedwald and Green Cash.