By MIKE DILLON
Rain on Wednesday night convinced trainer Karen Zimmerman to run Cinder Bella in the $100,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha.
It was the best possible news for the high class mare who has an extreme aversion to running on hard tracks.
"The track was 2.4 before the rain, so that should have it somewhere where the mare can cope," said the Central Districts trainer yesterday.
Cinder Bella and Platonic will be eye-balling each other more than usual in tomorrow's feature.
The two high class mares are on trial for the $A2.5 million Doncaster Handicap.
"Provided she races well on Saturday she will head to Sydney the following weekend and run in the George Ryder Stakes as a lead-up to the Doncaster," said Zimmerman.
Cinder Bella turned in a fabulous first-up effort in the group one Auto Auctions at Trentham.
She flashed home late to finish second to Star Satire and Zimmerman is confident the mare has improved lengths since. That is a huge prediction given the strength of the Trentham performance.
"She was a little bit burly for that race and she's tightened up nicely."
No one will be more relieved than trainer Graham Richardson if Platonic races up to her best form after a major hiccup in the Thorndon Mile last start.
Platonic was not herself after spending five hours in a float on the way to the races and Richardson is happy with the weight the mare has piled back on in recent weeks.
"When something like that happens you are always paranoid until they race again," he said yesterday.
In keeping with recent runnings of the Breeders Stakes there is plenty of class engaged.
Soap Opera, She's A Meanie and the trio of 3-year-old fillies Diamond Cashel, Elevenses and Singalong have the talent to keep the favourites honest.
She's A Meanie should have freshened nicely for the 1600m after striking a problem that kept her out of the 2000m Lion Red Stakes in what was to have been her last start.
Her effort to flash home into second behind runaway winner Giovana at group one level at Te Rapa last start was excellent and her finishing burst will be well suited to this track.
Stephen Autridge would be delighted with a first-five placing from Singalong, dashing winner of the 2000m Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at Te Rapa last month.
"She's freshened up nicely, but from No11 gate she'll have to drop back.
"I'd like to see her running on nicely somewhere behind the placegetters to convince us to press on with a Sydney campaign."
Elevenses has come on well since her Grosvenor Stakes win.
The open distance race, the Te Aroha Vet Services Genesis, looks wide open.
There is plenty of scope for value and it might come from classy but erratic mare Star Blinka.
Racing: Rain favours Cinder Bella
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