Kiwi Ida wins 2017 Nzb Canterbury Belle Stakes Listed NZ $50,000 at Riccarton Park (NZ), 1200m.
Honest and consistent, Kiwi Ida, the favourite, was squeezed soon after the start from barrier seven, settling midfield (wide) but handy enough before they reached the crossing. Into the straight, rider Chris Johnson had plenty of room to challenge.
He shook the reins and slowly but surely she moved up alongside the leader, took over inside the 150m and edged clear with something in hand over the final 50m for a nice win, by three-quarters of a length, her fourth (first black-type) in ten starts.
Hot Fuss led at the crossing as well as at the 300m, gave the winner a decent tussle to the 100m but relented late yet held second well from Ajay Tee, who was last (inner) turning in and ran on best of the rest for third. Highland Lady also ran on quite well from well back for fourth.
