28 Dec: Kiwi Ida puts Thorndon credentials on the line
Published: 27 Dec 2018 - - Author: NZ Racing Desk

Talented mare Kiwi Ida will chase further stakes success in Friday's Listed The Craigmore Timaru Cup (1600m) and could earn herself a Group One start if she extends her winning sequence to three.

Photo: Race Images South

North Canterbury trainer Karen Parsons can see no more reason why the four-year-old mare can't measure up again as she shoots for her third stakes win after the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton last season and the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at the same track last month.

Since that win, Kiwi Ida has added the Speights 1400 at Cromwell after flashing home from last in the hands of apprentice Rahul Beeharry.

"We had our hearts in our mouths last start and we know Chris will ride her the same way," Parson said.

“Chris” is leading Canterbury jockey Chris Johnson, whom Parsons credits for much of Kiwi Ida's success.

"He does all the work with her and he has done the whole way through," said Parsons, who races and trains the mare with her husband John.

"It's only been through circumstances that Chris hasn't been able to ride her in her last couple of wins, but he's the one who has turned her into a racehorse. He's made her into the professional little lady she's become.

"I'd love to pay Chris back with a win tomorrow but it doesn't always work out that way."

A winner of eight of her 25 starts, Kiwi Ida is an equal $3.80 favourite for the Timaru Stakes with Kolonel Kev, while Boots 'N' All is the $4 third favourite.

Kolonel Kev and Boots 'N' All turned in meritorious efforts in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham earlier this month and if Kiwi Ida can measure up to that pair at Phar Lap Raceway, she could also head to Trentham for a Group One 1600m assignment.

"We've entered her for the Thorndon Mile but we'll just wait and see. If she proves herself at 1600m, there are some good races down here at black-type level too," Parsons said.

"She's a pretty laid-back sort of customer now and nothing fazes her too much. She doesn't put 100 percent into her gallops either so we can only assume she's come through her recent races well.

"Tina [Comignaghi, stable apprentice] galloped her the other morning and she was pleased with her so we're happy."

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