Recent addition to the stable, four-year-old mare, Kowhai gave her new Owners a quick return on their investment with a dominant win at Bendigo on Saturday in her second run for the Hope Racing Team. Unlucky not to win at her first outing at Seymour, jockey Cory Parish made sure she had clear running throughout the 1400m race settling her in a mid field position on the outside. Making their run into the race approaching the home turn she rounded up her opposition to draw away for a 1.25L victory at the finish line. Sporting the Beck family racing colours of Navy and White, worn by their former top line galloper, “Folding Gear” bought back many fond memories and it was great see to see Ken and James Beck back in the winners circle.
Kowhai (pronounced Co Fi after NZ native tree) is a well bred mare by Champion Sire, Sacred Falls and was purchased from the Inglis Online sale late February. She was formerly trained by the late Mike Moroney and being part of the Ballymore dispersal sale she was identified by Lee as a mare that may suit the Hope team training style. Not overly big in stature but compact she relishes wet track conditions and coming into the winter months she should progress through her grades as she steps out further in distance. Lightly raced she records her second win from 14 starts with prizemoney earnings over $47K.
