Racing: Extra distance should help Samurai follow his orders

There were plenty of pointers coming out of last week's Matamata Cup.

King Of Ashford is on line for Australia, Arlingtonboulevard is one step away from another major win and Fiscal Madness is the same.

And the most relevant immediate pointer was the finishing run produced by Woodville visitor Samurai into fourth place behind the above trio.

Two starts back Samurai finished only fifth in the Merial Metric Mile at Awapuni and might have won had he found clear space in the home straight.

Last week he flashed home from near last at the 500m, giving the impression the 1600m is now too short for him.

The 1900m of the Rotorua Challenge Plate tomorrow looks ideal.

And the fact that he has previously raced at Rotorua - one start for a placing - is a reassuring statistic.

As a back runner Samurai always creates for himself the possibility of traffic problems in the closing stages of his races.

Despite it's small circumference, Rotorua more often than not suits the swoopers and Samurai might find himself in a more favourable position at the 300m than at either Awapuni or Matamata.

Twinkling is heading towards a big summer.

Everything went wrong for her two starts back at Ellerslie and as a result of those problems she was one race short when she lined up on the same track two weeks ago.

She loomed up on the inside of the leaders at the 220m, but ran out of condition and was beaten a neck and half a length by Mandela.

Twinkling has stamina and will be suited by the step up to 1900m.