Awapuni hope Kana set to repay careful handling

[Wandering Eyes]

A patient approach with capable filly Kana may be rewarded when she steps out on the inaugural synthetic track meeting at Awapuni on Sunday.

The Peter Didham-trained daughter of Tivaci looks well-placed to take advantage of a step back in class in the Martin Collins New Zealand Handicap (1000m).

Two starts back at Tauherenikau, Kana was a close second behind Petrucci who has subsequently finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and was then fifth in a competitive age group line-up.

“Her run at Te Rapa was really good where she over-raced a bit on the first corner and we’ve had some trouble with her teeth,” Didham said.

“She had quite a big ulcer at the back of her mouth as well, she’s still quite young and immature and it’s just one of those things.

“We’ve changed some gear and taken the nose band off and put the side winkers on to help her be a bit kinder in the run.

“She’s not naughty or anything, but the problem with her mouth has taken a bit longer than we expected to fix.”

Kana displayed early promise last season with success at Trentham at the first time of asking and she finished fourth in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) and fifth in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m).

“We have been patient with her and she won three trials in a row and then won her first race,” Didham said.

“She has just needed some time and I think we’ll see the best of her in the spring, but she’ll have a couple of runs now and then she can go back out again.”

From the family of the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Stakes (2000m) winner Sixty Seconds, Kana has the benefit of the ace draw and will be partnered by Johnathan Parkes.

“She’s drawn one so Johnathan will probably let her run and if Thatz Daisy comes around then we can sit in second,” Didham said.

“She is quite smart and this race fits in nicely. It’s only a 1000m so we’ll try and sneak a win and then place her from there.”

Stablemate Mazzini also appeals as a decent chance in the Manawatu ITM (2140m) with Kozzi Asano booked to ride the daughter of Turn Me Loose and the Zabeel mare Letsgetiton, who won on six occasions.

“She hasn’t had a lot of luck lately and it was a great run when she finished third at Otaki and then at Tauherenikau she drew wide and was caught wide all the way,” Didham said.

“She didn’t handle the track at Awapuni last time so we’ve got to try the synthetic track, some horses like them and some don’t but she has worked well on it.

“It’s not an overly strong field and there’s no float fee so we can have a go.”

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