Tina Temple is favourite to win the feature race at Hawera today, but her trainer is not so sure.
"She's been given a lot of accolades, but she hasn't been up against a field like the one she meets on Saturday," Tauranga trainer Del Roberts said. "There's some very good horses in the field and I could not be overly confident."
Despite the class in the $40,000 Fayette Park Stakes group-three field, Tina Temple looks to be one of the hardest to beat.
The Diamond Express 4-year-old has won five of her seven starts, her last three on end.
She has not raced since scoring an all-the-way victory on her home track on August 30 in a progressive grade race when carrying 57kg.
Judging by her impressive trial win over 1200m against eight rivals at Taupo last week she is ready to continue her good form.
Roberts was "quite happy" with Tina Temple's trial effort, saying the mare won it with something in reserve.
However, he said wet tracks prevented him getting much hard work into Tina Temple before the trial.
Roberts' other worry is Tina Temple's wide barrier draw (13), though he said the horse had managed to overcome those in the past.
"I would have liked her to draw in closer, but that's for the jockey to overcome."
Tina Temple was ridden last start by Peter Johnson, who has the ride again today because regular rider Gary Grylls is in Melbourne to ride Oarsman in the Caulfield Cup.
Up against Tina Temple are the Paul O'Sullivan pair, Sierra Dane and Luscilla.
O'Sullivan leaned slightly towards Sierra Dane, as the better chance.
Sierra Dane, the mount of Michael Walker, resumed from a spell with an impressive last start intermediate-grade win at Hastings on September 27.
"She couldn't have been more impressive in her debut this season against moderate opposition," O'Sullivan said.
"She's stepping up in class, but she's been stakes' placed both here and in Australia and I think she'll run well."
O'Sullivan said the Danehill mare would appreciate the good footing she should strike at Hawera.
He was less sure how Luscilla would handle a firm track.
"That's the only question mark with her," he said. "I think she is going to end up a very good 2000m horse and now that the tracks have firmed up it remains to be seen if she can muster enough speed over 1400m."
Luscilla has three wins from six starts, failing to return a dividend only on firm tracks.
- NZPA
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