Racing: Zarzuela ready to hit Derby headlines

Matamata trainer Mark Walker wasn't kidding when he said Zarzuela would really hit the big time in the autumn.

And no one thought he was over calling it.

Zarzuela has had only six starts but already she's being aimed at the headlines. The $2.2 million Telecom Derby is her big target followed by the AJC Oaks in Sydney.

Walker doesn't need to talk too hard to owner David Paykel to get him to see the sense in missing the Oaks at Trentham in favour of the Derby.

"Absolutely not," said Paykel when asked if he would give any consideration to the domestic Oaks.

Which is good news for the connections of the fillies and bad news for the owners of the colts heading to the Derby.

Zarzuela had to be everything her connections thought of her to beat Prince Of Wales on Saturday.

Prince Of Wales dashed clear and looked impossible to beat, but Zarzuela produced a sprint only absolute topliners can muster.

"I didn't think she could get there," said delighted rider James McDonald, who blamed himself for the filly's defeat at Ellerslie at her previous start.

"That other horse had three lengths on us and I said 'we're not going to peg him back'.

"She changed legs and really flew that last 50m."

Zarzuela's dam Star Satire looked hugely talented but didn't have a great deal of luck and David Paykel is finally getting the rewards he deserves.

The Zabeel filly is now an extremely valuable commodity - not that Paykel is a seller - and if she wins the Derby add another zero to the quote.

Prince Of Wales wasn't disgraced and co-trainer Paul Moroney felt the colt could be feeling a little jarred after his gallop between races at Matamata last week.

Maiden galloper Time Keeper finished third, just a head and threequarters of a length behind the winner with a decent gap to the rest.