Vinny Colgan executed a pre-race plan perfectly as he got doubtful stayer Fix home in the Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.
Colgan brought Fix across from a wide barrier draw to lead before applying the brakes and turning the group two race for three-year-old fillies into a sprint home.
It was enough to get her home, though she needed to show plenty of grit to beat Kidwelly, who looked set to race past several times in the straight.
“We had to take the draw out of play. There was no point getting back,” Fix’s Matamata trainer Ken Kelso said.
“Vinny asked me if I’d worry if I led and I said no, if you get to the front stack them up and sprint home. Ride her like she’s the best horse in the race.”
The victory puts Fix in front of the Filly of the Year series after she also won the Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day.
Kelso said she was likely to have another go at a middle distance in the Sir Tristram Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa in February.
“She’s in the fillies series so you’ve probably got to see what happens. It was a gutsy effort, she’s done a lot of work from an outside draw today, so if she got soft sectionals then why couldn’t she go further.”
Kidwelly improved from her fifth to Habibi on rain-affected ground on Boxing Day and will be aimed at the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in March.
“We were a bit disappointed with her run on the first day but it was just the ground,” trainer Mike Moroney said.
“She’s not certain to stay for sure, but chances are she will being by Dylan Thomas.”
