Southern mare surprises in Awapuni feature

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

‘‘She found enough to hold him off. he’s honest and you just have to look at her record as she hasn’t missed many times.’’

Along with her 13 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.

Visiting Cambridge mare Concert Hall was back to her brilliant best when she demolished her opposition in Saturday’s Group II Aberdeen On Broadway Manawatu Cup (2300m).

The Joan Egan-bred and owned five-year-old had been slowly building to her peak form in recent starts which included an eye-catching run for fourth in the Counties Cup (2100m) last month.

Steady rain during the week saw the Awapuni track rated a Slow8 for the meeting which had some doubting the Savabeel mare’s credentials on the testing footing. However, she never looked like getting beaten once rider Ryan Elliot secured a nice run just behind the speed after jumping from a wide barrier.

Elliot had Concert Hall cruising approaching the home corner and when asked for an effort she put the win beyond doubt as she charged away in the run home to win by four lengths from a brave Platinum Invador with topweight Dolcetto fighting on bravely for third. NZ Racing Desk