It’s the flying filly Kiwi Karma

KIWI KARMA went like a bullet at the start and went like a bullet in the straight to win the grand finale of the six-race $1 million Singapore Golden Horseshoe series in Race 5 last night.

Already the winner of the second and fourth legs, the rose among the thorns in yesterday's $325,000 Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe flew the gates from her second-widest barrier of 14 runners and posted a four-length lead.

But first leg winner Barnato (Barend Vorster) surged up to take over at the 1,000m mark of the 1,200m feature, with Kiwi Karma just beside on the rails. Kiwi Karma's stablemate and third-leg winner Affleck (Danny Beasley) was right behind.

Leading jockey Manoel Nunes took Kiwi Karma to regain the lead shortly after straightening.

Affleck, the $8 favourite, loomed up but became one-paced, probably a victim of the second-run syndrome but still managed to finish second by one and a half lengths eight-time champion to give Laurie Laxon a 1-2 finish.

NO BONUS

Kiwi Karma was a New Zealand-bred and was not entitled tor the $30,000 bonus, which was given to an Australian-bred sold at a public auction through Inglis or Magic Millions as a yearling.

Said an elated Laxon: "Well, she's a good smart filly. She flew the gates and dictated the race and she kept a little bit of allowance which really helped.

"She's quite delicate actually. She has been a little bit shin sore off and on, you know, not having too much work, pretty light preparation really but she handled it well.

"It was a very good run from her. She was like drew the extreme outside, not 14 of 14, but what she did has been a very brave effort."

Nunes labelled Kiwi Karma a small horse with a big heart.

"She's so professional," said Nunes.

"She jumped and put herself there. Tonight we were worried about the barrier but she jumped so well and, when I took her to the front, she travelled very comfortably.

"I knew Danny was behind me and Vorster, but I didnt want to lose my position on the rails.

"I just kept my horse there. I was like three-quarter length behind Vorster and, of course, I was worried about the long course but she proved too good."