Group One performer Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) is set to fly the South Island flag in the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on September 5.
Group One performer Kiwi Ida will contest the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on September 5. Photo: Trish Dunell
Owned and trained by John and Karen Parsons, the high-class mare has been off the scene since February, but she warmed up for her return with impressive trial wins at Rangiora on July 14 and August 18.
Karen Parsons, who has spent recent weeks in the North Island with well-performed jumper Delacroix (NZ) (Zabeel), reported that Kiwi Ida has made pleasing progress in the build-up to her return.
“She’s coming up well in this preparation, we’ve been very happy with her so far,” she said. “I haven’t been there to see many of her gallops, but John has been delighted with how she’s been working.
“As long as we’re able to get her up to Te Rapa, the plan is for her to start out in the Foxbridge Plate next weekend. Then we’ll carry on to Hastings after that.”
Bought for just $4000 by the Parsons as a weanling, Kiwi Ida has won 14 races and more than $470,000 in stakes for the Balcairn couple.
The daughter of Squamosa was a standout performer in southern ranks last season, winning four races including successful North Island raids on the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni and Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie. She closed out her 2019-20 campaign with a third placing behind Te Akau Shark and The Mitigator in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.
The six-year-old will have the chance to add to that Group One record during the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival, with nominations for the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) on September 19 and the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) on October 3.
“We’ll definitely go for the first one, and we’ll wait and see about the mile,” Karen Parsons said.
“She’s never gone a mile before, but there aren’t many other options around for her at that time of year, so we’ll have to think about that. John’s not very keen on it, and Chris (Johnson, jockey) is a bit apprehensive about that distance for her as well. So we’ll see. But we’ll definitely be there for the Tarzino.”
