Racing: Winning turn likely

Te Aroha trainer Keith Opie admits he'd be lying if he wasn't worried about the potential sticky track conditions for Indikator in tomorrow's $65,000 Anchor Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga.

But then he thinks back 12 months to the 2008 running of this race.

"The ground was pretty sticky when he ran third in it last year and he was having his first career run over ground [beyond 1600m]," said Opie.

Indikator has still had only the four middle distance races and his third in this race a year back was a cracker.

"He was wide throughout. He was that wide at the 500m he was nearly on the golf course over the fence, but he still kept finding and ran on to finish third."

The last part of his race that day, under 56.5kg, was impressive.

Last start, Indikator was beaten nine lengths in an extraordinary mud-running performance by Strapped For Cash in the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie, but it was a particularly good effort, especially when you consider there was a further 12 lengths back to third-placed The Strutter. It was one of those occasions you get from time to time in the wet conditions when one horse simply handles the conditions to absolute perfection.

What is pleasing Keith Opie most is that Indikator has pulled through the Cornwall in great shape.

"He's not usually that good after a race, but he came home that night and ate up. He hasn't been an easy horse to train."

Indikator this time has 53.5kg and will be ridden by Andrew Calder.

Strapped For Cash is engaged again and on his Ellerslie run you have to say he's a chance, but the track conditions he just loved there will be different this time.

Also, and perhaps most importantly, he goes from 53kg to 56.5kg, meeting Indikator 2kg worse off.

Offering a little balance is the stat that Strapped For Cash has had two wins from six starts on the Tauranga track.

El Perez could manage only fourth in the Cornwall, but having to carry 57kg in the very testing conditions wasn't easy. He's got 58g this time, so it's not going to be much easier, but he's a high-quality winter stayer and well up to beating more than beat him.

Kiri is an interesting runner. She won this race last year causing an upset, but then she's always mixed her form.

Like when she won at good odds at Te Rapa two starts back then subsequently finished at the tail of the field in the Cornwall at Ellerslie.

Biggles has certainly found his form. There was a bit to like about his Te Rapa victory last start.