Kiwi On Show broke a Southland and course record for 1609 metres when she won today. Her time of 1-52.2 smashed the mares and all comers course record of 1-54.0 recorded in 2013 by Seabreeze Star. The previous Southland record of 1-53.3 was recorded at Winton in 2015 by Rocker Band.
The New Zealand record for mares over 1609 metres is 1-51.1 and is held by The Orange Agent.
The record was set up by Betta Go Fernco which speared through from the second row. She was caught wide early before sitting outside the leader Kiwi On Show for a part of the fast run race. Betta Go Fernco eventually got to the lead with 700 metres to run. She only went down by three quarters of a length.
Kiwi On Show is royally bred being by Bettor's Delight out of Kiwi Ingenuity. Kiwi Ingenuity held the New Zealand mares record of 1-52.1 for five years from 2009 until 2014.
Both horses look capable of performing well in the rest of the Empire Stallions Southern Belle Speed series and look promising for the $20,000 Final in April at Winton.
Later on the programme Steiger broke the track record for 2400 metre stand when he won The Hunter Family Handicap Pace. His time of 2-57.2 was nearly two seconds faster that the previous record of 2-59.0 run by Char Do Neigh in 2016. By Bettors Delight out of a Holmes Hanover mare he was well suited by the fast pace of the race.
For driver Kirk Larsen it was the third time he has won this race. His first winner was in 1988 when he reined Shapiro while in 2000 he trained and drove Lisa O to win.
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing