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...
€1.9million Sale-Topping Colt Wins G3 Somerville Stakes
The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
Inglis Confirm Skybird for Everest Slot
Inglis is thrilled to confirm G1 winner Skybird (Exosphere) as our representative for the running of the $20m The Everest.
La Dorada Chasing Redemption at Valley
Last season’s champion NZ two-year-old La Dorada will be out to prove her ability against her Australian counterparts on Friday night when she contests the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
Invincible Filly Snares $100,000 Inglis Bonus
The least expensive filly by champion sire I Am Invincible sold at Inglis Easter in 2024, Wear the Crown always looked to have been well bought at $260,000 by Seib/Racing / Champion Thoroughbreds and she set about repaying her purchase price at Goulburn on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday September 25
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding to Win - 2025 Manikato Stakes
Racing at The Valley on Grand Final Eve in Melbourne - the southern capital doing what it does best, bringing people together in celebration of sporting greatness!
Aquis Welcome First foals for Young Gun Officiating
A fast Group winning sprinter by Breeders Cup Classic winner Blame, Officiating (USA) was carefully selected by Aquis Stallions following a global headhunting mission to secure an outcross stallion for Queensland and his first foals are arriving this spring.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Richard Johnston has bred some very good horses under his Bylong Park banner including triple Group I winner Think It Over and an Anders three year-old he bred and races was an eye-catching debut winner at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Golden Rose Colts – Sires of the Future
The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
Horse Trading Stock Issues to Avoid
One of the key areas in thoroughbred taxation is accounting for trading stock and ensuring the tax closing value is properly ascertained. You’d be quite surprised of the enormous difference to the tax position of any racing player where trading stock problems occur.