Racing: Cinder Bella likely Doncaster starter

By BARRY STREET

A week from today Karen Zimmerman hopes to be flying to Sydney for a racing campaign she has wanted most of her life.

It's her "big OE" with Cinder Bella, a mare she trains at Levin and who has ample ability to vie with Australia's best metric milers.

Zimmerman was so heartened by Cinder Bella's fast-finishing third in the New Zealand Bloodstock Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes at Te Aroha on Saturday that today she will recommend to the 5-year-old's owners that they tackle two group one races at the Sydney autumn carnival.

The first is the $A350,000 George Ryder Stakes, a weight-for-age 1500m, at Rosehill on March 31 - small change compared with the second, the $A2.5 million San Miguel Doncaster, 1600m, at Randwick on April 14.

Cinder Bella has already won at group one level, beating Integrate and Sir Howard in the Captain Cook Stakes, 1600m, at Trentham last October.

Considering that performance and two subsequent placings, behind Star Satire in a group one 1400m at Trentham a month ago and Saturday's group two 1600m, she is not too badly off with 52.5kg in the Doncaster.

She is also assured of a Doncaster start, lying about 15th in the order of merit.

Zimmerman remembers taking horses to Australia about 20 years ago for former Wanganui trainer Kevin Thomson, who now lives on Australia's Gold Coast.

Now she is looking forward to an even greater adventure with a horse she has trained herself for seven wins, five placings and $252,400 in stakes.

The ideal outcome would be striking a track to suit - one with the sting out - for the Doncaster.

Cinder Bella did not get her preferred footing on Saturday and was left further behind the eight ball after the pacemaker and comfortable winner, Saint Cecile, was allowed a soft lead.

Despite those disadvantages, she flew from second last into third only two and a half lengths away, making several lengths from the straight entrance.

Takanini 4-year-old Regency also closed fast to claim second, plus a following for the $100,000 Japan-New Zealand Trophy at Tauranga next Saturday week.

Saint Cecile is another probable Japan-New Zealand Trophy runner, seeking a hat-trick of wins since the Wairarapa Breeders' Stakes at Tauherenikau on February 6.

Ironically the Wanganui free-goer had soreness in her hindquarters last week and was considered an unlikely Te Aroha runner until last Thursday night.

It was not until early on Friday morning that her owner-breeders, Nigel and Adaire Auret, decided to make the trip.

Rider Lisa Mumby was pleasantly surprised by how easily Saint Cecile was allowed to bowl along for the first 1000m on Saturday.

Not that anybody could blame her nearest pursuer, Trudy Collett on Soap Opera, not wanting to apply pressure.

Soap Opera had had to go much harder early than otherwise necessary from No 15 at the start.

Runner-up in the 1999 and 2000 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes, Soap Opera again looked good for a placing until the final 100m.

She wound up fifth almost alongside her fourth-placed stablemate Diamond Cashel, the first 3-year-old filly home.

Diamond Cashel remains a hope for the $A700,000 AJC Australian Oaks at Randwick on April 28.

Not so Filly of the Year Singalong, who hardly cleared the rear on Saturday, racing as though at the end of her tether.