Racing: Talented mare ready to score

Ruud Van Slaats has certainly proved she has bounced back well from serious travel sickness in Australia earlier this year.

In tomorrow's $85,000 Cal Isuzu Stakes at Te Rapa she should prove just how well.

The highly talented Ruud Van Slaats did not race on her Australian campaign, being lowered by a virus that made her very sick.

"We had to treat her with penicillin, which really knocked her," said her trainer John Sargent.

"We brought her home and instead of the usual six weeks' spell, she had more like three months in the paddock."

Sargent said because of the extended spelling period it has taken even longer than usual to get Ruud Van Slaats to full fitness this preparation.

"She's always been a very gross mare and this time it's taken a little bit more to get the condition off her."

Last year Ruud Van Slaats won the Breeders Stakes at Pukekohe then backed up with victory in this Te Rapa race.

This time she was beaten a half-head by Culminate at Pukekohe and John Sargent is sure she can go one better tomorrow.

"She's finally right back to where she was at this time last year."

The surprise acceptor is Ekstreme, winner of last week's group one $200,000 Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham.

"She's done so well I thought, well, why not run her?" said trainer Bryce Revel.

She will be ridden by Jason Waddell, who rode Ruud Van Slaats to victory last year.

Waddell has just returned from a six-week suspension.

Scarlet Vanhara had trouble working into the clear before flashing home fora close third to Culminate and Ruud Van Slaats at Pukekohe last start.

She can find the line strongly and the jump from 1400m last start to this 1600m is in her favour.

The way the race was set up with the speed being shared by the eventually quinella horses, Veloce Bella had little chance at Pukekohe last start.

She cast a shoe early and was back and wide approaching the home turn, but still ran home strongly. This is more her sort of race and on a track on which she has won twice.

* The TAB yesterday opened up only one galloping market for tomorrow's races. It was on the $100,000 Waikato Times Gold Cup and Passchendaele was the $2.50 favourite.

Perhaps a little short for a mare having her first open-class start - perhaps not.

The market for the Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes at Awapuni tomorrow will be available at 9.00am today and it will be interesting to see what the TAB thinks of the odds around gun filly Katie Lee.

Don't expect to pay for your Christmas presents off the winner of the 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.

Apart from those she beat handsomely at Riccarton, facing Katie Lee tomorrow are winners of maidens and R70 races, even if several of them are extremely promising.

To be beaten at level weights, Katie Lee will have to have gone backwards since her southern trip and indications are she hasn't.

Our Ella Belle looked good overcoming difficulties in the home straight to flash into third behind Katie Lee in the 1000 Guineas.

Maiden winners La Marina, Marsh Harbour and Monachee are talented and Roger James' trio of Pearl Dancer, Adulterer and Veronica Franco are capable of getting some of the money.