Racing: Fresh Juice can earn trip to Queensland

Juice has been on trial a few times this season.

Tomorrow's $60,000 Platinum Homes Rotorua Stakes is no different.

The high-class filly will be tested to see if her form justifies a trip to the Queensland winter carnival.

And if she is able to win this race fresh at 1400m it will say an awful lot about her ability - and the ability of trainer John Wheeler.

Juice is coming off tough runs over 2400m in the $2.2 million Telecom Derby and the NZ Bloodstock Oaks and to add to her problems she has drawn wide (15).

Wheeler says he's very pleased with the way Juice has come through the Derby and Oaks runs, but admits only this race will tell the true story.

"I couldn't be happier with her, but we'll find out on Saturday."

The horse to beat might well be the Te Aroha-trained Loaded Command.

You can probably forget her last-start failure in the Easter Handicap where she was on what now looks to be an unsuitable one-week back-up after finishing fourth in the group one Breeders Stakes on her home track.

She finished close up behind the winner, Australian Dane Julia with Shanzero and Veloce Bella not far in front of her.

All three of those would probably start favorite here.

Loaded Command will have freshened since the Easter and the 1400m will definitely suit - four of her five career wins have been at the distance.

Jazzella weakened only late to wind up a handy seventh at Hastings last start after she was engaged in a speed battle.

It may not be easy getting across to lead from her wide gate, but if she can manage that, Te Aroha will suit her style of racing.

Jazzella has not proved to be easy to place and this would be a nice reward win for her connections.

The value runner could be Foxton visitor O'Ceirins Angel.

She went only ordinary when resuming over 1200m at Riccarton recently, but she found the trip too short and probably needed the outing.

Last preparation she was just beaten by Dezigna in the group one Captain Cook Stakes and the time before beat Keepa Cruisin and Insouciant at group three level at New Plymouth - one of her seven wins in a short career.

She prefers rain-affected footing, but will not be inconvenienced by the yielding surface she is likely to strike tomorrow.