Zarzuela wrings tears

TRISH DUNELL

SMART: Matamata filly Zarzuela (James McDonald) strides lear of her rivals to win Saturday’s Gr III Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa.

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The first pleasant surprise was enough to reduce Angela Paykel to tears; the second made her blush.

Paykel, the wife of David Paykel, the breeder and owner of rising star Zarzuela, said such was the surprise of the filly's victory in Saturday's Gr III $70,000 HS Dyke Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa that tears streamed down her cheeks soon after the finish.

Then the second surprise - learning that Zarzuela's stable name was also Angela during Matamata trainer Mark Walker's acceptance speech for the three-year-old feature.

''We both burst into tears. We certainly didn't expect to win today, that's for sure,'' Angela Paykel said.

''She flies. We thought her mum [Gr I winner Star Satire] was the one.

She got galloped on and had to be retired but fortunately we kept her and bred this fabulous creature.''

David Paykel agreed the win was an emotional one.

''We thought we were here on trial for the Derby and if we ran in the first five or six, we'd be happy,'' Paykel said.

''The trouble with her is she doesn't like getting beaten. It's wonderful,'' added Paykel, who has long since relented to Walker's preference to target the $2.2 million New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 6, rather than his leaning for the Gr I New Zealand Oaks.

''Mark's led the way and if you follow a professional like him, you can't go far wrong.''

Walker produced Zarzuela at Te Rapa for her first run in six weeks since her brilliant win in the Gr II Great Northern Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

He had taken her to Te Aroha 10 days ago for an exhibition gallop between races but such was his confidence with the Zabeel filly that he gave her only a trot behind a lead pony and a swim in preference to ridden trackwork last Thursday.

''Good fillies can do amazing things and she just keeps stepping up,'' Walker said.

''She had a week off after the Guineas and a week with Kit Davison pre-training and she's come back in wonderful order.

''She'll improve with this too. She's just a high-class filly. She's pretty special so I thought she could lift to another level.''

Rider James McDonald was even more plentiful with his praise.

''She gave me wind-burn,'' he told Walker on dismounting.

Later he added: ''She's a superstar filly in the making without a doubt. You'd have to say that after the way she won today. I raced up from the 450m with real ease. She's a great ride.''

Saturday's win was Zarzuela's third win from seven starts and took her earnings to $123,875.

She will have her next start in the Gr II $85,000 Championship Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie before tackling the Derby, for which she is now a $3.50 favourite over Monaco Consul at $6.

Corporal Jones made good ground for second ahead of Jungle Juice with Military Move sticking on strongly for fourth after racing on the pace in a race which clearly favoured the backrunners.

Imabayboy, Tullamore and Bone Of Contention all found the line well to be the next trio home.

- © Fairfax NZ News