A gritty front-running display has seen promising galloper The Poormanzabeel add to his burgeoning record with a victory at Rotorua.

Sent straight to the front by rider Michael Coleman, the lightly raced gelding lobbed along at a steady pace before putting the pressure on his four rivals approaching the home bend. The Poormanzabeel found a good kick when challenged halfway down the home straight to run out a narrow but impressive winner over the fast finishing Mutechi in the three-year-old 1400m contest.

The victory made it three wins from his last four starts and extended a good run of form for trainer Catherine Cameron. However, the Cambridge based conditioner was the first to admit her charge hadn’t endeared himself to many with his headstrong antics including Coleman, who was dumped unceremoniously as the pair made their way around to the start.

“He’s a bit of a thinker and can make things tough on the jockey,” she said.

“I did warn Michael that he might not love him. I don’t love him but when he can win like that it’s great.”

Cameron was taken by the effort after the son of Zed responded well to the challenges he received during the running.

“He really showed a bit of heart today as they came up to go past him,” she said.

“He stuck his head out at the right time, so it was a good win.”

Race favourite Back In A Flash, who was bidding to retain her unbeaten record after winning her first two starts, wasn’t disgraced when finishing third after having to change ground in the run home when racing in cramped quarters.