Katie Lee enjoys her workout between races at Ruakaka this month. Photo / APN
Rain-affected track and all, Katie Lee has the credentials for tomorrow's $70,000 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa.
In a race where there are many fors and againsts for many runners, Katie Lee has two factors to back her up: three wins from four starts at Te Rapa and
the fact that co-trainer Debbie Rogerson says she is more forward to resume than last spring.
A year ago, Katie Lee came back to racing with a third placing to St Germaine and Eileen Dubh in the Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings, then showed the benefit of that run with a runaway victory in the Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa.
This time, she's more up to the mark and, significantly, trainer John Sargent says St Germaine is not as forward as last year and will definitely improve with the race.
Regardless of their level of class, it's never easy for early-season 4-year-olds to take on the older horses for the first time in the spring.
But one attribute Katie Lee has is cast-iron determination and that could be critical in the final 200m tomorrow. If she would prefer better conditions than she's likely to strike, so would Run Like Al, who remains the one to beat.
He also has three Te Rapa victories to his credit and has been winning with big weights. His last-start win under 59.5kg at Ruakaka was something a bit special. Oldtimer Bulginbaah is as well suited by the conditions as any.
The 59kg looked to get the better of him in the closing 120m of the Opunake Cup at New Plymouth last start. He burst to the front and looked the winner, but was eclipsed by two lighter-weighted horses. He likes Te Rapa and is probably the best each-way bet.
