Winless in eight starts since capturing the same race 12 months ago, local hero Kiwia showed his love of the track with a hard-fought win in Saturday’s $500,000 Ballarat Cup.
It was also his first win for trainer Archie Alexander after he took over the training of the gelding from Darren Weir.
With John Allen in the saddle, Kiwia raced three-wide with cover before holding off the challenge of the fast-finishing Double You Tee (Written Tycoon) by a short-head with a half-length to Another Dollar (Ocean Park) in third place.
"It was a little bit of deja vu," Allen told racing.com.
"It was probably a bit tougher this year. I think he was more impressive last year but it's a tougher race and the extra prizemoney has meant there are better quality horses around so all credit to him.
"I had a good run, three wide with cover. He was under pressure from about the 600 and he was caught a little flat-footed but once I peeled him off the back of Mick Dee's horse (Suzuka Devious) he did accelerate quickly and got there comfortable enough.
"Then, he was half waiting and I could see Paddy's horse (Double You Tee) coming at me and I thought he was half going to pull up on me, but to his credit he stuck his head out."
The winner of the Group III Coongy Cup back in October 2017, the 6yo son of Reset advances his record to 8 wins, 3 seconds and 4 thirds from 31 starts with earnings of $1,099,750.
Alexander said it was important to keep the momentum going after a Group III success with Gamay in the Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield over the spring carnival.
"Everyone can talk the talk but you need winners so, to land a big winner on a big day when we've aimed the horse for this day, is great," Alexander said.
"It's a hometown Cup and probably more special because he's a horse that we came here not overly confident with.
"He hasn't won in 12 months, he's an old boy who's had his issues. It's been quite hard to keep him in one piece."
Bred and part-owned by Gerry Ryan's Limerick Lane Thoroughbreds Kiwia is the first foal of the unraced Danehill Dancer mare Single View a sister to Group III MRC Geoffrey Belmaine Stakes winner Tuscan Sling and a three-quarter sister to the stakes-placed Arrival (Choisir) the dam of the stakes-winner Assertive Approach (Akeed Mofeed), out of the Listed SAJC Walter Brown Stakes winner Firenza (Kenny's Best Pal).
Single View had not had a live foal in three years before foaling a full-sister to Kiwia in 2018 and she had a filly foal by Cable Bay (IRE) on Septmber16.
