Kiwi Ida (middle) grabs Rock On Wood (closest to camera) at the winning post at Awapuni. Photo / Race Images
Underrated southern mare Kiwi Ida scored her biggest career victory when she upset the favourites in yesterday's Group 2 Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni.
The John and Karen Parsons-owned and trained five-year-old has been a standout in southern racing, winning 12 of her 39 prior starts with
two at stakes level, including the Group 3 Canterbury Breeders Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton last year.
Yesterday's contest represented just the second time she had ventured to the North Island following 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 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.
