Racing: Indikator in fine form

Most horsemen will be delighted the weather forecast for tomorrow changed yesterday from rain to fine.

Not so, Te Aroha trainer Keith Opie.

The prospect of rain for Indikator for tomorrow's $70,000 Platinum Homes Rotorua Cup was just what Opie was looking for.

But he's not downcast.

"Indikator doesn't mind the track the way it should be [probably just dead], but it gives him an advantage when it's wet."

There are a couple of considerations around Indikator for this event: one going into the race and one coming out of it.

The one going into it is the way Indikator sprinted late in his race to win over 2100m at Tauranga last start when Opie thought he'd be one run short with just a 1400m lead-up race.

The hugely impressive element of that effort was the dash he put into his final sprint after getting clear late.

"When he was hooked up behind them on the inside early in the home straight I thought he'd probably eventually get out and grind home for second or third.

"The sprint he produced surprised me a lot."

That sets Indikator up well for this race, although Opie says he would have preferred an extra week's preparation.

The follow-on issue is a probable second campaign in Australia for Indikator.

"It's not an issue where he finishes as much as we're happy with the way he pulls up and as long as he does that well, I'd say we'll be off and gone to Australia," said Opie.

"He had four races there last campaign and he didn't let us down in any of them.

"The tracks were very firm, which is not his go, and he was still running home from the back of the field in 33.9 and 34 from the 600m, which is very difficult."

Opie said a decision has still to be made whether Indikator goes to Sydney for off-carnival races or to Queensland for the Brisbane Cup.

Visitor Manonamission has 58kg topweight to contend with, but after his big effort in the Hawkes Bay Cup last start he has to be considered.

He sat three wide without cover for at least the last 1600m, yet still kicked hard to finish second to Boundless.

Veloce Bella was a scratching from Te Rapa last week when the track was downgraded because of rain.

Her past couple of races have been at 1600m and she looks better suited here to 2200m.

The last time she tried a middle distance, three starts back, she won the group one Whakanui Stud International at Te Rapa.

Tinseltown's Te Aroha Cup win last start was no fluke. He won this race last year when it was run at Te Aroha and even though this field is much stronger, he has just found his true form again, which is pretty impressive at best.

El Presidente has yet to try a middle distance, but he's talented, has been carefully managed and, with a light weight, is not out of this.