Six-year-old mare Kiwi Ida is in fine fettle heading into Saturday's Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) with the John and Karen Parsons-trained mare staying in the Waikato after her fresh-up sixth placing in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m).
The multiple Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed sprinter has been installed a $14 chance for Saturday's contest and gets to her preferred 1400m distance. Eight of her 14 career victories have come over 1400m and Kiwi Ida has taken good improvement from her first-up performance but has six lengths to bridge on race favourite Avantage ($1.70).
“She was pretty brave given she was fresh-up and she never got closer than four-wide to the fence,” Parsons said of the mare's Foxbridge Plate run. “We have been based with Sarah Broughton near Mystery Creek and she is just marvelous.
“The horses look absolutely fantastic. She rides them for me, and she looks after them if I go home. She does a wonderful job. “She is right opposite Mystery Creek and we do our fast work at the Te Awamutu track, which is lovely. “We've got our own track at home and we go to the beach, so we're not used to the hubbub but Te Awamutu is pretty quiet and relaxed.”
Parsons is yet to confirm a rider for Kiwi Ida but has had a few jockeys chasing the mount. Kiwi Ida holds a nomination for the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) but is a doubtful starter in the second leg of the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown, with Parson's notion of stretching the mare likely to be over-ruled. “I've got her in the mile, and I wanted to try again because she is older and stronger and her racing style looks like she will get it, but John and Chris (Johnson, jockey) don't think she will get the trip. “She is going to go to the Taranaki Breeders' Stakes (Group 3, 1400m) on October 10.”
In seven starts beyond 1500m, Kiwi Ida has not troubled the judge. Meanwhile, 11-year-old jumper Delacroix will tackle the AHD Hawke's Bay Steeplechase (4800m) for the Parsons. Part-owned by former jumps jockey Tommy Hazlett, Delacroix won the Ken & Roger Browne Memorial Steeplechase (3900m) earlier in the season and narrowly failed to run down It's A Wonder in the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m).
“The only thing I am worried about is the fact he hasn't had a start for eight weeks, but he looks a million dollars and he is working well,” Parsons said. “Tommy and John weren't keen to run at Awapuni because they don't like the jumps there, so I have had to get him ready without a run, but we are pleased with him.”