Gallant mare Trisha Lea struck conditions to her liking at Trentham yesterday and she duly ran up to the stable’s expectations.

The six-year-old has proved herself to be adept on rain-affected going and she produced a plucky performance to win the WRC Life Members’ Trentham Gold Cup (2200m).

“She’s pretty tough and she loves ground like this,” Opaki trainer Kylie Little said.

Trisha Lea went in to the race at the top of her game, having been successful at her previous start on a Heavy 11 track at Awapuni.

She was ridden there by apprentice Madan Singh and he again took the reins on Saturday.

They made the early running before they were clearly headed before the turn, but Trisha Lea rallied strongly in the closing 200m for the fifth win of her career.

“She’s a typical Zed and needs these wet tracks and a bit of ground,” Little said. “We’re looking forward to the winter with her.”

Hard To Be Humble gave a bold account of herself in the second start of her current campaign with a late finish for second.

Trainer Janelle Millar is keen to head north next month with the daughter of Roc de Cambes for a crack at the Orora Kiwi Packaging Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) at Tauranga on June 23.

Hard To Be Humble’s effort turned the tables on Princess Dillon, who had beaten her at their previous meeting at New Plymouth.

The latter, who was sent out favourite for the event, went to the front 500m from home but couldn’t sustain her effort in the trying conditions and had to settle for third.