Two of the progeny of classy mare Kiwi Ingenuity won at the Winton meeting today.
Kiwis Are Flying capped off his solid Canterbury form by winning the Hydroflow Three Year Old Mobile Pace.
“He’s been a bit unlucky up home and he’s always struck one a bit better than him. He’s only a wee fellow and I think he’ll improve,” said trainer driver Robbie Holmes after the three year old Bettor’s Delight colt's win.
From barrier two Holmes took Kiwis Are Flying straight to the lead and he won easily by two and a quarter lengths from another Canterbury visitor Franco Noah.
Kiwis Are Flying is now qualified for the last $12,000 Nuggets Final on the grass at Ascot Park on Saturday 3rd March.
“He hasn’t run on the grass. He’s only eaten it so far. He’s a nice enough pacer though.”
Later on the programme his full-sister Kiwi On Show did the same thing – leading and holding off all challengers to win her race.
“That’s her go in front. Her mum was the same. It was pretty windy down the back. We had to face it twice – once off the gate and then in the next round.”
Back to the winners circle – Photo Bruce Stewart
Holmes says Kiwi On Show struggles with racing at night in the damp air so that’s why he’s ventured to Southland six times for daytime racing in the warmer temperatures. Of those six visits she's won twice and been placed another three times. Both horses were bred by former Southlander Hamish Scott, his wife Dr Kim Lawson and Equine Investment Limited.
“Hamish worked out that she had to race at a certain temperature.”
Holmes says Kiwi On Show is likely to be retired at the end of this season.
“She’s got a good mile time 0.1 behind her mother’s Jewels time. Hamish has her booked into Art Major. If she keeps jumping up (improving) you never know,” he said, hoping that she may race for his stable for another season.
Both horses are out of the Christian Cullen mare Kiwi Ingenuity which won eleven of her twenty seven starts and $523,200 in stakes.
“Everythings been small out of the mare. Both the horses here are small and the Mach Three that was sold to Australia was the smallest. It’s surprising because the mother was massive. She’s got another Bettors (Bettor's Delight) on the ground that’s a two year old. We haven’t done too much with her as she’s a little bit off-set in one knee. I like her because she’s got a bit of adrenaline and is the same sort of cut as these two. They’ve got a natural spark with them. They’re not an early family. He (Kiwis Are Flying) qualified the earliest out of the whole family”.
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness racing