Tough gelding Historian has added a second Group One to his resume with a narrow win in the Zabeel Classic.

The six-year-old Choisir gelding fought hard in the Ellerslie straight under jockey Matt Cameron to just get the better of Wanganui mare OFille by a long head, with Soriano a nose back in third in Saturday's 2000m race.

Despite winning the Thorndon Mile at Trentham in January, Historian was a $17.50 chance after modest lead-up form, but trainer Gary Alton was confident the horse would run well, NZ Racing Desk reported.

"He got well and truly headed, but he's got a lot of ticker," Alton said.

"We knew he was well and it was a really good effort."

Runner-up to Jimmy Choux in the 2011 New Zealand Derby, Historian was sent to Hong Kong but was forced to return to New Zealand without racing there after suffering a serious tendon injury.

Ongoing feet and leg issues mean he does all his training on the water walker but he has fashioned a good record for Alton on his return.

Earlier in the day, the Group Two Great Northern Guineas (1600m) was taken out by Puccini, a half-brother to six-time group one winner Sir Slick, while Hera took out the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) for apprentice rider Michael Dee.