Although she is no bigger than a pony, pint sized mare Decorah demonstrated the heart of a lion as she demolished her rivals to score handsomely in the Gr. 3 Scot Thrust Auckland Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie.

The six-year-old daughter of Waikato Stud sire Pins had put the writing on the wall that a big performance was on offer after she finished a gallant third carrying top weight of 60kgs behind Vavasour in the Gr. 3 Waikato Cup at her last start. Heavy rain during the morning brought her further into contention given her record on wet tracks with punters installing her second favourite behind Farm Boy at start time.

She didn’t let her supporters down as Opie Bosson settled her behind midfield in the early running as pacemaker Jagersfontein set up a steady speed at the head of affairs. Race favourite Farm Boy and rider Vinnie Colgan seized the initiative approaching the home turn as they went for the doctor and established a three length advantage commencing the run home.

Bosson hadn’t panicked as he set out after the leader with Decorah hitting the front with 300 metres to run. Challenged gamely by firstly Rose Of Virginia and then King Kamada the mare found plenty in reserve as she won drawing away at the finish by a comfortable one and a quarter lengths in 2.33.67 for the 2400 metre journey.

“She’s only a midget but she doesn’t give in and favours it here at Ellerslie,” noted co-trainer Murray Baker.

“She also likes the cut in the tracks so she had a fair bit on her side.

“I thought she might have got to the front a little too early when she went up to them but to her credit she never stops fighting and held them out comfortably at the finish.”

Baker was delighted with the performance of stablemate Show The World who flashed home from the rear of the field to take fifth, while he remained philosophical about the late scratching of talented filly Coldplay from the previous event.

“She can get a little grumpy and when the one next to her went off in the stall she decided she was going to lie down,” he said.

“There’s not much you can do about it but when they are young like she is it’s not a habit you really want to see them get into.”