WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER AT ROTORUA

Wednesday 28 December at Rotorua

Weather: fine, track: Good4, rail: true.

12:55 p.m. R2 11 Pure Fiction (3 f Wrote – Close To Me, by Stravinsky) – Cameron Lammas; worked three wide near pace before finishing eighth in the Maiden 1400 metres on 7 December at Hastings. Blinkers off, she receives opportunity to improve from barrier one in the $14,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.20.

2:04 p.m. R4 12 Madame Le Fay (5 m Snitzel – Lady Le Fay, by Thorn Park) – Cameron Lammas; tailed off last before closing margin when resuming without a trial in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 19 November at Pukekohe, and steps up in the $14,000 Rating 65 1560 metres. She looked good winning on soft ground over 1400 metres in May at Rotorua, ideally drawn (2), and side winkers on. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $3.80.

2:39 p.m. R5 5 Iridessa (7 m Eurozone – Zennita, by Commands) – Yuto Kumagai (a3); returned from Ballymore Stables at Flemington, where she won over 1968 metres. Trialled on 6 December at Waipa, she resumes in the $14,000 Rating 60 1400 metres. She won over 1600m & 2100m in NZ, weight relief to 55kg, and likely to improve up in trip. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.50.

3:17 p.m. R6 3 Inchaarj (4 m Iffraaj – Stray, by Tale of the Cat) – Cameron Lammas; ended first campaign finishing third in the Maiden 1600 metres on 13 May at Matamata, and resumed with good second in the Maiden 1400 metres on 7 December at Hastings. Going well, but requires luck from wide draw (11) in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.75. Pictured sire Iffraaj (Zafonic)

3:17 p.m. R6 8 Shimmering (4 m Telperion – Platinum Monarch, by Fastnet Rock) – Yuto Kumagai (a3); finished well for second in trial on 6 December at Waipa, and resumes in the $14,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres. She placed over this distance last season and raced up to 2000 metres. Weight relief to 54.5kg, but requires luck from wide draw (11). Fixed odds: $21.00 & $4.80.

4:59 p.m. R9 6 Battle Sound (3 g Belardo – Tiff And Co, by O’Reilly) – Jake Bayliss; spelled following the 3YO 1400 metres in October at Matamata, and resumes without a trial in the $14,000 Rating 65 1215 metres. He showed ability when coming from last on Heavy8 to win the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres in September at Matamata, has blinkers on, but likely to get back from wide draw (14) and look for him finding the line. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $4.00.

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Co-trainer Pam Gerard said: “Pure Fiction has worked up nicely, fit and well, and should receive a favourable trip from barrier one.”

“Madame Le Fay has worked up very well and stepping up is distance is a bonus. She will find her feet and look to run home strongly on a course where she has won.”

“Iridessa resumes after one trial, looks big and burly and likely to improve for the run.”

“Inchaarj has worked up super since her resuming run for second and drawn out (11) we expect she will get back and hopefully find a path through them.”

“Shimmering has drawn the outside (11), but needs the fresh-up run and we will ride her neutral and see her running on.”

“Battle Sound had a couple of issues with having a cold and some stone bruises. He worked nicely on Saturday, but likely to improve for the run and over more ground.”