G2 Winner for Squamosa

Media Release - Saturday December 21

Underrated southern mare Kiwi Ida scored her biggest career victory when she upset the favourites in Saturday’s Group II Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni.

Kiwi Ida - Race ImagesThe John and Karen Parsons-owned and trained five-year-old has been a standout in southern racing, winning twelve of her 39 career starts prior to Saturday with two at stakes level including the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton last year.

Saturday’s contest represented just the second time she had ventured to the North Island following an unplaced run at Trentham as a two-year-old, with punters mostly overlooking her claims for the Group Two feature despite her impressive career record.

Progressive miler Rock On Wood was sent out a warm favourite in the contest off the back of a four-race winning streak and looked to have the contest in safe keeping when he burst to the front early in the run home.

Rider Chris Johnson had been biding his time on Kiwi Ida towards the rear of the field in the early stages and tracked the favourite into the race approaching the home turn.

Johnson angled his mount off the back of Rock On Wood at the 200m and she responded with a sustained burst that carried her to the finish line in front by a head from Rock On Wood with Shadows Cast and Secret Allure close up behind the pair.

Johnson was his usual understated self as he described the way the race had panned out for him.

“I got back past midfield but got out at the right time,” he said.

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“She came into it nicely and I ended up behind the right horse turning in.

“She found enough to hold him off.

“She’s honest and you just have to look at her record as she hasn’t missed many times.

“She was trained to the minute and although we had a bit of trouble getting up here, she seemed to cope with it.”

Along with her thirteen victories, Kiwi Ida has also been placed on 14 occasions, with six of those in black type company and has earned just under $393,000 in prizemoney.

A full brother to Kiwi Ida will be offered from the Highline Thoroughbreds draft during Book 1 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka next month. – NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - Manawatu Stakes Gr2 1400m

Awapuni Track: Slow(8) Time: 1:25.70
1
Kiwi Ida
- 5m Squamosa (AUS) x Empress Ida (AUS) (Blevic (AUS))
Tnr: J & K Parsons Rdr: C W Johnson 57
2
0.1
Rock On Wood
- 5g Redwood (GB) x Rock On Rye (AUS) (Catcher In The Rye (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Elliot Rdr: R T Elliot 59
3
0.9
Shadows Cast
- 7g Per Incanto (USA) x Ages Past (NZ) (Slavic (USA))
Tnr: M K Oulaghan Rdr: L J Allpress 59
4
1.0
Secret Allure
- 4m Zacinto (GB) x Secret Scent (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: R J Myers 57
5
1.1
Magnum
- 7g Per Incanto (USA) x Sound Lover (NZ) (Sound Reason (CAN))
Tnr: Ms L Brennan Rdr: O P Bosson 59
6
2.6
La Bella Rosa
- 7m Tavistock (NZ) x Memphis (NZ) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: Ms T Egan Rdr: L T Hemi 57
7
3.4
Dark Princess
- 6m Cape Blanco (IRE) x Game Duchess (AUS) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: J R Lynds Rdr: J Parkes 57
8
4.4
Lady Kartel
- 6m Tavistock (NZ) x Flash Drive (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Ms T Keegan Rdr: S T Collett 57
9
4.9
Ritani
- 5m Makfi (GB) x Elegant Emerald (AUS) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: C J Grylls 57
10
5.4
Emily Margaret
- 4m Pins (AUS) x Seven Schillings (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: K & P Hughes Rdr: R J Hannam 57
11
9.7
Heni
- 9m Towkay (AUS) x Bahhzaar (NZ) (Bahhare (USA))
Tnr: M P Breslin Rdr: D L Turner 57
12
22.5
Chocante
- 7g Shocking (AUS) x Strictly Maternal (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: D S Johnson 59
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