KEY POINTS:
Guy Lowry is used to dealing with problems around Lilakyn.
He's free of most of the usual ones heading into tomorrow's $130,000 First Sovereign Rotorua Cup, but not all of them.
Lilakyn seems free of the bicep tendon problem that has dogged at least the last 12 months
of her career, but Lowry has a niggling doubt about the high class mare handling the Rotorua surface if the predicted showers eventuate.
There is no question that if everything suits Lilakyn tomorrow she is the horse to beat following her terrific second to Sarajay in stakes company at Te Rapa last start.
The tendon problem had hampered her preparation for that race and rider Hayden Tinsley had to save the Hastings mare up for one late dab at the leaders and Lilakyn flew from last and wide on the home bend to flash into second.
That was at 2000m and she will be even better suited by tomorrow's 2200m.
"She'd had only two and a half weeks work going into the Te Rapa race after being confined to her box for four weeks and you have to hope it didn't take too much out of her," said Lowry.
Lilaykn has won one of her two starts on a slow track, but is best in good going.
"She's okay up to about 3.5, so we might be lucky there. Rotorua can trip a few up, particularly with a few showers around, so there is a question mark there."
Regular rider Hayden Tinsley is making the trip north to ride Lilakyn.
Brisbane-bound Sculptor faces a tough task in his third race in as many weekends, including a trip to Christchurch, but trainer Peter McKenzie said the race fits the horse's programme.
"If he didn't run here it was three weeks to another suitable race and that just doesn't fit.
"I'm not at all worried about the distance he's travelled because he's the best traveller you could imagine. One of my other horses, Miles, is a shocking traveller, but this bloke's a gem."
Sculptor went an even race for fifth behind Delbrae in last week's $100,000 Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton, without threatening to win.
The key to this race being more suitable is the weight to carry - he drops from the weight-for-age 59kg last week to 52kg and is likely to be just a touch fitter.
Like Lilakyn he has not raced at Rotorua, which is always a slight question mark, but he seems able to manage most types of track conditions.
The upsetter could be Shamrock Star.
His form this preparation reads 0-9-7, but none of those races have suited. Last start he struck a heavy track over 1550m at Trentham, the combination proving too much for him.
The step to a staying distance is much more ideal, although trainer Mark Oulaghan says the horse will start only if the track remains reasonable.
"If it's in the range of three he'll run, but if it got close to four he probably wouldn't."
Oulaghan says Shamrock Star has taken no harm from his unsuitable racing. He looks an attractive value runner sitting on 52.5kg.
Balmuse and Bodie are interesting runners.
Balmuse is coming off a second to Delbrae in the Canterbury Gold Cup. He won that race last year and was then beaten favourite in this race a week later.
Although not as well suited as under the weight-for-age conditions last week, he is far too good to ignore.
Bodie came back after a two-year absence to finish second over hurdles at Te Rapa last week.
He won this race as far back as 2002, subsequently winning the Auckland Cup.
He has had plenty of work to fit him for a jumps race and it might be unwise to put a line through his chances here.
* Latest odds:
Rotorua Cup, $130,000, opn hcp, group three, 2200m (run at Arawa Park tomorrow): $6.50 Valley Chief; $7 All Square, Lilakyn; $8 Balmuse; $9 Pretorius; $10 Nordic Dancer; $11 The Veep; $13 Sable; $15 Arabian Nights; $16 Shinko Prince; $17 Shamrock Star; $18 Mac Five, Sculptor; $21 Sir Prized, Western Line, Desert Flight, Melanion; $26 Bodie, Gull; $51 Catchmeifyoucan.
Back in business
* Class mare Lilakyn is, at least for now, over the bicep tendon trouble that has dogged her recent racing.
* Lilakyn flew home into second at Te Rapa last start and is likely to be fitter for this.
* Trainer Guy Lowry is anxious, but hopeful, Lilakyn will manage her first try at the unique Rotorua surface.
* Sculptor is having his third race in three weeks, but trainer Peter McKenzie says the horse is handling the racing well.