Mike Dillon: Smart types to oppose Sunline's daughter

Mike Dillon

Everyone's going to want Sunstrike to win Race 5 at Te Aroha tomorrow after the sad demise yesterday of her great mum Sunline.

It's not an impossibility, but Sunstrike has a tough task.

She seems to be getting better with age - just like her mother - and has drawn the rails, but there are a couple that look tough for her to beat.

Pinot Girl and Miss Raggedy Ann are among them.

Interestingly, apprentice Craig Grylls rode all three horses last start.

This time he's on Pinot Girl and she should be difficult to handle. Maidens don't win by 9.5 lengths and run 1200m in 1.10.78 on a dead track very often as Pinot Girl did at New Plymouth last start. This is several grades tougher, but the filly is in with a grand chance.

So is Miss Raggedy Ann. She's being ridden by a 4kg claimer and that can sometimes be a worry, but this is a 1200m dash and not a Melbourne Cup, so not too much thinking can be done.

One of the most interesting races going around today.

Another is the 1400m Rotorua Stakes, Race 9, for fillies and mares.

Loaded Command (No 8) will appreciate her home track. Forget she went around in the Easter Handicap and judge her here on her fourth to Dane Julia on this track the start before. That was a top effort and against her own sex, and with time between races, she appeals today. Lots of chances behind her, but don't leave O'Ceirins Angel (No 2) if there is yield in the track. The rating yesterday was a dead 4.

Lord Carson (No 1, R1) could start the day off well. He didn't get all favours when second at Taranaki last time and his run-home style should be suited to this roomy, wide track.

No claim again on Electronic Socks (No 1, R2) and mares carrying 58kg are a worry, but she shouldered 57.5kg to be narrowly beaten by Showcause last start which is great form for this. She's drawn out a bit, but Chad Ormsby is the real deal. She's so honest she's worth the risk. Revoke (No 6) isn't far off a win.

Align To Infinity (No 3, R4) has drawn to get the run of the race. This is not an outstanding field, although Can't Keeper Down (No 10) placed in the Oaks and wasn't disgraced when fifth behind Izonit at Manawatu last start.

All In Black (No 8, R8) is going to start favourite in the Cup, but she won't get it all her own way. She has to switch to right-handed racing and although she still has a decent weight advantage over the others, she will need to be right on her game. Ginga Dude (No 2) and Spin Around (No 1) are probably better than the horses she beat in the Hawkes Bay Cup, even allowing that Stand Tall and Vosne Romanee are also very talented.

If weight counts for much, Cetelle (No 1, R10) should be difficult to handle in the last. Maija Vance takes 4kg off her 58kg and in her present consistent form that could be enough. Lily L'Amour (No 3) is a logical danger.