Racing: Sum Up looks best at Rotorua

Fleur De Lune should finally win the Windsor Park Rotorua Stakes at Arawa Park today. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Favourite comes in well on weight for feature as does Fleur De Lune, who is chasing a trip to Brisbane.

Difficult to nominate a Rotorua Cup runner as the best of the day, but Sum Up (R6, No 2) has everything in his favour today.

The attraction is his drop from the 59kg he struggled around Hastings with in the Hawkes Bay Cup to finish fourth to the 55.5kg he has today.

That alone makes him a very attractive proposition.

The start before, Sum Up pointed to the fact he has come up extremely well this campaign by flashing home from last at the 600m to finish fifth in the 1600m Manco Easter at Ellerslie.

The No 15 barrier looks awkward on paper, but Sum Up has Opie Bosson to overcome that issue.

Graham Richardson has a great chance in the R85, 1560m, event with Mosh Pitt (R4 No 7) and Ididit (No 6). Both are good-quality 4-year-old mares and a quinella result would be no great shock.

Two starts back, Mosh Pit did not have all favours when equal third behind talented Twilight Granita at Ellerslie then followed that up last time with a comprehensive Hastings victory. Ididit was close up last start and her overall form is sound.

Trainer Lee Somervell is confident Fleur De Lune (R8, No 1) is in the right shape to finally win the Windsor Park Rotorua Stakes and force her way to the Stradbroke in Brisbane.

The high-class mare was beaten by a 9kg weight differential two years ago and was almost certainly not suited by the very sticky track when close up behind the winner last year.

Her form on paper in her past two starts does not look that great, but forget that, things simply have not gone her way. The wide barrier may help keep her away from the worst of the chopped up footing near the inside for as race late in the day.

Haere Mai (R2, No 4) got to the front way too early over hurdles at Te Rapa last week. He did well to hold on for fourth and although his Rotorua course stats are not impeccable, he is worth an each-way risk. Batman (R3, No 3) was impressive winning under 58kg at Awapuni last start. This is a lot tougher field, but he gives the impression he is on the up. Silverdale (No 2) and Neo (No 1) are tough opponents, but the each-way is useful.

Lots of chances in Race 5, but if in total doubt see if you get vision of Kapsboy's (R5 No 7) debut win at Rotorua on the NZTR website. The half-brother to Fleur De Lune was impressive and fresh up could surprise.

Elusive Gold (R7, No 5) might be a shade over the odds because of the huge number of horses with form in the race. She should be right in this.

The two Zeds, Survived and Usainity, go head-to-head for New Zealand in the A$125,000 Rough Habit Plate at Eagle Farm Brisbane.

Usainity will be favourite, but he'll have to work hard to beat Survived.