By Duane Ranger
Hunterville trainer Scott Dickson isn’t getting carried away with the sudden rise of his 4-year-old pacing mare – Kia Kaha – following her third win in four starts at Rotorua on Sunday.
The daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Top Gear (six wins) won on both days of the Otaki meeting last week and then cleaned up in Sunday’s C1 & C2 junior driving event – the $7,000 Andy Smith Pace.
“She’s finally gained some confidence and some gear changes have also worked. I amended her shoes and also took the guiders off.
“She’s no star yet but is progressing in the direction I want her to take,” Dickson said.
Kia Kaha has now won three races from 16 starts and placed three times since starting her career at Rangiora in October.
She was bred by Birchbrook Breeding Ltd, Mrs P. M. Calder, and Mrs Jackie Butt.
“My partner Lydia (Pickford) and I lease her and will probably end up buying her. We got her in November off Geoff Dunn.
“She’s a real nice standing start horse. If she keeps improving she could race in the Country Cups Final later in the season. I’m not saying that she can compete with those Country Cup horses yet but she is heading in the right direction,” 37-year-old Dickson said.
Kia Kaha was the $4.70 favourite on Sunday. Andre Poutama settled her second last before making a move at the top of the straight.
She then powered down the outside to get up and nab favourite Bettor’s Pocket and Tony Cameron by a neck.
Kia Kaha paced the 1800m mobile in 2:13.3 (mile rate 1:59.1) with final 800m and 400m sprints of 58.4 and 29.9.
Dickson insisted she wasn’t purely a grass tracker.
“I’ll keep her on the grass for now and also race her at Manawatu which is only 45 minutes away. When we do get her on the all-weather track again I’ll know exactly where she is at. She’s not an Auckland horse yet but she is heading that way,” said Dickson.
One horse that is an ‘Alexandra Park horse’ is yesterday’s Rotorua Cup winner, Hartofdixie
The 4-year-old American Ideal – Splendid Deal, who was the $7.30 favourite in the Harness Racing Waikato’s feature event – 15-strong $10,000 Armstrong Handicap for C2 and faster pacers.
She and Zac Butcher held out the favourite Major Change by a length and paced the 2600m stand in 3:24.1 (mile rate 2:06.3) with final 800m and 400m sectionals of 58.4 and 29.7.
It was the Barry Purdon trained brown mare’s fifth win in 21 starts. She has also placed seven times and now banked $40,351 in purses.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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