A brave Kiwi Man turned his fortunes around at Te Rapa with a fighting victory over 2400 metres.
The Debbie Sweeney-trained Reliable Man six-year-old had been an unlucky course and distance runner-up at his previous start when got out of a pocket late to charge home.
Sweeney and her apprentice Ngakau Hailey were determined to position Kiwi Man closer to the pace this time and, after being parked three wide early, settled outside of the leader.
The grey led early in the run home and he fought tooth and nail to the post in a great show of courage.
It was his third career victory and richly deserved as his record also features seven second placings.
“He was really unlucky last time, he just got beaten by the head after he got too far back,” Sweeney said.
“We thought we would have a crack at a Rating 75 with a lighter weight and ride him handier.”
Sweeney said Kiwi Man was close to heading for the paddock, but may possibly have one more run in the Listed Rotorua Cup in a fortnight.
“The further he goes the better he will be so he can hopefully come back next time when we’ll look at some Cups’ races.”
Kiwi Man’s dam Miss Herb was twice successful up to 2100 metres and she is out of the unraced Zabeel mare Zamelia, whose brother Zarius won seven races, including the G2 City of Auckland Cup and ran third in the G1 Auckland Cup.