By MIKE DILLON
Cinder Bella has that one quality you could make millions out of if only you could identify it in horses as yearlings.
It's called heart, courage. Or if you could talk to a horse, they would say the ability to run through the pain barrier.
Probably the best description of the quality is attitude.
Karen Zimmerman has scars on her toes to testify to the enormous amount of attitude possessed by the winner of Saturday's $120,000 Japan/New Zealand International Trophy at Tauranga.
You have probably never seen a horse less certain to win a major race than when Cinder Bella was struggling hopelessly in third place in the severely testing footing on the home turn.
That the rapidly-emerging mare was able to turn defeat into victory was no surprise to Zimmerman, even though she admits she had given up hope of winning halfway through the race.
"That's her, she just won't give in. She's the most determined horse you'll come across," Zimmerman said.
It is an attitude to die for in a racehorse - perfectly relaxed and pliable until there is a job to do, then a sudden switch to the personality of Atilla the Hun.
"As soon as it's time to go out on the track, you've just got to get out of her way - she'll walk right over the top of you."
Zimmerman had to get local trainer Ross Taylor, with whom she boarded Cinder Bella on Friday night, to help her get the mare out of the birdcage and onto the track on Saturday.
"Yet as soon as the job's done, she's fine. She'll walk off the track like a lady."
That sort of attitude could step the Levin mare up to group one success in the $100,000 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie.
But Zimmerman will have to wait until the end of the week to see if Cinder Bella's huge determination has temporarily flattened her constitution to keep her out of the Easter.
"She's certainly a bit jaded today," said Zimmerman from the Waverley races yesterday.
"She isn't bouncing around like she usually is. I'd like to get her to Ellerslie."
The alternative is a six-week spell for the mare who has won six of her nine starts. Zimmerman is not tempted by the big money on offer at the Queensland winter carnival.
"I really want her in Melbourne this spring. There are some nice races for her there and, ideally, I want her to pick up a good fillies and mares race, which Melbourne seems to run a lot of.
"She could go to Queensland, but I'm mindful of the fact that the more time she's been given the better she's kept coming up. A spell now would see her in good shape later in the year."
Intermediate-rated Zayyad, who had not previously raced in open company, nearly tore off a major surprise, leading for most of the home straight until Cinder Bella, wide on the track in possibly slightly better footing, edged ahead late.
It was a run that suggested Zayyad may be a lightweight chance in the Easter Handicap.
Racing: Courage carries Cinder Bella to top
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.