Emotional Otaki Win for Idyllic

Media Release - Thursday November 28

Idyllic is far from what Kate Hercock would describe the past 10 days, but a speedy mare with that name afforded her a moment of solace in Thursday’s Rose City Cars Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.

Hercock tragically lost her fiancé Danny Champion last Monday and the Otaki meeting was her first back in the saddle since his passing. In a competitive open sprint, she continued her association with Stephen and Kevin Gray’s Idyllic, of whom she partnered to win the Rating 75 1000m contest at Tauherenikau earlier this month.

Idyllic winning the Rose City Cars Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Thursday.   Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The daughter of No Nay Never has trademark early speed, and despite being slightly slow away, she soon kicked up to take over the pacemaking role with Amend in close quarters. The $3.10 favourite Lazio settled in the one-one and was giving away a decent margin to Idyllic turning for home, but the mare was never in danger as she powered to victory by just shy of two lengths to Amend and Perfectsister.

Hercock saluted crossing the line and was understandably full of emotion returning to scale.

“Everyone thinks that I’m really tough, but at the end of the day, I’m still a human,” she said. “I know what we do for a job is tough, but I think the last seven days of my life has been the toughest part.

“The only reason you want to get out of bed is to live Dan’s dream of training the horses and making him proud.

“She’s an easy ride, she loves being out in front and she rates herself. She botched the start a little bit and I thought oh no, I’m going to be slow away, but she’s got such good turn of foot.

“When I got to the 400m, I thought right, this one’s for Danny. I did everything, I didn’t care if I was going to get excessive use of the stick today, I wasn’t getting beat.”

Advertisement

Idyllic is establishing herself as a serious prospect for the upcoming summer sprint features, with Kevin Gray expressing plenty of pride in the six-year-old.

“She’s a front-running horse, she works that way, and I don’t do anything to try and change her,” he said.

“I’m very proud of her, she’s put on nearly 20kgs since last year and she’s doing everything you want her to do.

“It’s not easy to get horses like this, John Cameron who manages and part-owns her has been very good to me and I’ve known him for a number of years. To have a horse like this for him, as well as the stable, I’m very pleased.

“I’d like to say that the young girl that does the work with her, she does everything on her and has been brilliant. She’s not an easy horse to ride, because man, can she pull.”

Initially passed in when presented by Wentwood Grange at the 2020 Karaka Yearling Sales, Idyllic was retained by breeder John Cameron and she has gone on to win five races from 17 starts and just shy of $130,000 in stakes. Out of a Lonhro mare Idlewild, Idyllic is a half-sister to promising filly Romilly, who contests Saturday’s Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui.

The Gray’s have put in a nomination for the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 4 where Idyllic currently sits a $41 chance on the TAB Futures market. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Rose City Cars Levin Stakes 1200m

Otaki Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:09.82
1
Idyllic
- 6m No Nay Never (USA) x Idlewild (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Kevin & Stephen Gray Rdr: K R Hercock 54
2
1.8
Amend
- 5g Wrote (IRE) x Tansava (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms I Kelly Rdr: K L Chung 52
3
3.6
Perfectsister
- 6m Per Incanto (USA) x Justlikeyasister (NZ) (Gold Centre (AUS))
Tnr: G R Vile Rdr: C R Barnes 54
4
3.8
Kana
- 5m Tivaci (AUS) x Tick Tock (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Peter Didham Rdr: M J Mc Nab 54
5
5.3
Lazio
- 5g Per Incanto (USA) x Madonna Mia (NZ) (Red Clubs (IRE))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: Rihaan Goyaram 52.5
6
7.3
Old Town Road
- 7g El Roca (AUS) x Malaya (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: Joe Doyle 57.5
7
7.5
Puketiro
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Matakana (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: W F Pinn 54
8
9.5
Prioress
- 6m Proisir (AUS) x Shahbab (NZ) (Bertolini (USA))
Tnr: Ms S Gordon Rdr: S C Spratt 54
9
12.3
Waihaha Falls
- 7g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Think Mink (NZ) (Scaredee Cat (NZ))
Tnr: Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos Rdr: L Sutherland 60
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 12
Here is the full list of 34 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Angels Flying with War Machine
Rising star War Machine will start the popular elect in Saturday’s Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm, carrying not only the hopes of punters and his connections, but the heartfelt weight of two powerful legacies.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 13
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There was a busy set of trials at Randwick on Friday with eight heats won by juveniles including a couple of unraced youngsters by first season sires Farnan and Anders.
Dual-Code Vendor McKay Gears Up For Weanling Sales
The thoroughbred and standardbred communities will converge on Karaka for the National Weanling Sale and National Standardbred Weanling Sale on Thursday 26 June, and vendor Ross McKay has horses in both catalogues.
Entries Open for 100th National Yearling Sale
Entries are now open for NZB’s Karaka 2026, with the iconic week on the international sales calendar due to take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from Sunday 25 January, marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand.
Pinhooking Aplenty at NZB’s National Weanling Sale
NZB’s dedicated National Weanling Sale, set to be held Thursday 26 June, is a prime opportunity for astute judges to purchase their next lucrative pinhooking investment.
Can Kiwi Owned Desert Lightning give Pride of Dubai another G1?
Kiwi-owned Group One winner Desert Lightning will be out to double his elite-level tally when he returns to Eagle Farm on Saturday to tackle the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
One to Watch – Ballarat
This So You Think filly bolted away to win by seven on Friday and is a half-sister to Cool Archie, who will run as favourite in the Group I BRC JJ Atkins on Saturday.
$475,000 Ole Kirk Filly Tops Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Breeding Stock Sales Series in history today concluded with a strong renewal of the Great Southern Weanling Sale at Oaklands.