Kikorangi Blue wins Roxburgh Cup

Bruce Stewart Contributor

After having no luck with Kikorangi Blue (Betterthancheddar) at her last start, Southland harness racing driver Brent Barclay didn’t want a repeat in todays $25,000 Peters Genetics Roxburgh Cup.

Once she stepped from two off the front line though, Barclay took the Bob Butt trained mare straight to the lead.

“He (Butt) said she begins like a bullet from the stand. But she’s had so many mobiles that Bob said to take it easy. She actually missed away for a few strides but once she hit her straps she was good,” Barclay said.

Although she was challenged strongly by favourite and back marker Kahlua Flybye during the running, Barclay was determined to hold the front.

“If he’d (Kahlua Flybye’s driver Tim Williams) come with a bit more aggression I may have handed, but the horse heard her coming before I did and really picked the bit up. I just drove her how she felt and she felt great.”

The six year old held on to win by three and a half lengths from The Conqueror which came up the inside to take second place off Kalua Flybye.

“At the end I gave her a bit of a chirp up and it took me until the end of the back straight to stop her.”

Kikorangi Blue has been stabled at Lauren Pearson’s Winton stable for the last few weeks.

“Her work this week has been terrific, and I said to Bob we’ll take luck out of the equation if we get there.”

Kikorangi Blue will return home to Canterbury and will be set for the $60,000 Group Two Garrard’s Premier Mares Championship at Addington on January 26^th.