Racing: Herbert still has reason to smile

Anne Herbert has something to wash away her Baldessarini blues with Far Too Much.

The emerging galloper had far too much talent for the opposition at Rotorua on Saturday, suggesting he is one of the staying stars of the future.

It says a lot for Far Too Much's constitution that he could win impressively at Matamata last week after nine months away from the track then back up seven days later and repeat the performance.

"Honestly, when he pulled up at Matamata he could have gone around again," said Herbert yesterday.

"Thank God he won - otherwise it would have been a long drive home after Baldessarini."

Bad luck in running came close to undoing Far Too Much. He is a long gelding with a big stride and Catherine Treymane was in trouble at the 550m when caught back along the rail.

Far Too Much got up on the bit and Treymane was desperate for a gap.

She angled out across heels early in the home straight and although the perfect hole appeared, the horse had to be good to pick himself up and sprint to victory in the short home straight.

Herbert cannot find suitable races for the horse in the next month.

"I don't really want to step him up out of his class, but a race like the Avondale Cup might be an option."

* Australian-owned Zilzie is a serious horse for training relative newcomer Ross Elliot.

He raised a few eyebrows when he made progressive payments for the Kelt Capital Stakes mare, but proved his point with victory in the $70,000 Rotorua Challenge Plate on Saturday.

"It was a big effort from a mare that had raced only six times. This is only her second preparation so she can go out now and we'll look at something in the autumn," said Elliot.

Zilzie raced on the speed for Lisa Cropp after drawing wide and just held out a late dash by the favourite Samurai, who had to make up three lengths in the final 150m.

* Solvini's win over the older horses at Rotorua was encouraging for Jokers Wild connections heading into the Wellington spring meeting.

Jokers Wild will be nominated for the Wellington Guineas, but Ballymore Stables is considering trying for another group one victory by instead taking on older horses in the Captain Cook Stakes at weight-for-age.

"That wasn't a mug field Solvini beat and it encourages us that were not too far out of the square by thinking about running against the older horses too," said Paul Moroney.

Ballymore Lass finally broke through for a win at Rotorua, but misfortune dogged her again - she pulled shoulder muscles and may be spelled.