Kana did her bit for raising money for Cure Kids at the second annual Red Nose Raceday at Riccarton Synthetic on Friday.
The Peter Didham-trained mare carried the red-and-white spotted Cure Kids silks to victory in the Prezzy Card Rating 75 (1200m), raising $1,000 for the charity, with LOVERACING.NZ dedicated to donating that sum for every winner donning the colours on the day.
Didham said it was a great cause and he and his owners were happy to do their part in raising funds for Cure Kids.
“Anything to support a charity is a good thing,” Didham said. “My owners were happy to do that for them (use the red nose day colours).”
The victory also fulfilled the first part of Kana’s southern venture, with the Palmerston North mare having trekked south to try and qualify for the $100,000 special conditions 1200m race at Riccarton’s Synthetic meeting over the Grand National Festival of Racing next month.
“It is a plan that we have had for a while, so it was good that it paid off and it was a great ride,” Didham said.
“I just felt we had to win another one on the dirt to get in (to the $100,000 race) because I think she will need at least two (wins) and we still might miss it. There have been a lot of dirt races in Christchurch, and a lot of winners, so it depends on who pays up. It would be a shame if she missed out, but she has had two wins and a third, so she is a chance.”
Didham is hoping Kana is also in for a strong spring, with the Awapuni conditioner planning to give his charge a freshen-up following her southern venture.
“I think she is a better mare in the spring,” he said. “We saw a bit of brilliance from her last spring and that has always been the plan, to have a go at the $100,000 race, she can then come back home, have a couple of weeks off and then come back for the spring.”
Closer to home on Sunday, Didham will head to Waverley where he will line-up three runners, including Reprobate in the Pioneer Brand Products (1400m), Korolova in the Sandfords Rural Carriers (1200m), and Fabian Hawk in the Sportz Bar Wanganui – MRN Contracting (2200m).
“They are all working well and have all got chances,” Didham said. “The disappointing one has been Fabian Hawke. His work has been outstanding and he has thrown in two really poor runs. We have checked him out all over and can’t find a thing wrong. This week his work has been the best out of my whole team, so I am expecting a bit better from him.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
