NZ Kidz Kartz Inter Dominion

By Gayleen MacKinnon

It’s finals night this Friday for the Kidz Kartz.  So far each pony has run three heats to determine which final they are in.  They have each run a 600m race and two 800m races. 

We always knew it was going to be a huge task with 27 ponies and driver representatives from throughout Australasia, but it didn’t phase the organising committee or Alexandra Parks racing manager Regan Cotter, who has been very supportive, scheduling our six heats into already busy race nights. We wanted as many kids as possible to experience this prestigious international competition.

The consolation final is made up of 13 runners and run over 600m. The in form ponies with heat wins or placings are (1) Cracker and Thomas Towers Taranaki, NZ, (3) Rusty and Emma Adams Southland, NZ, (4) Betsy Boo and Layne Dwyer Queensland, Australia, (5) Shadow and Meg Hazlett Waikato, NZ, (7) Tonto and Jason Kittel South Australia, (9) Monet and Chloe Formosa Newcastle, Australia. 

I can see this consolation final winner being from across the Tasman, as although (2) Khali didn’t feature in heat placings she was never far away from Sarah Walsh from Victoria, Australia.

The main event The NZ Kidz Kartz and Gregory Equine Saddlery and Covers is made up of the 14 top qualifiers and run over 800m.

With an 800m front, the back marker has a whopping 370m handicap and starts in the home straight right in front of the grandstand, however this is not a hindrance to  Canterbury’s Lachie Ford and Boost off the back of last months New Zealand Cup win.  Boost and Lachie were consistently flying home in heats, but he will have to be in top form and make no mistakes.

Let’s not take anything away from the other runners, our other heat winners in the field are    (1)Turbo and Devon Towers Taranaki, NZ, (6) Bad Jelly and Mikayla Rogers Waikato, NZ,   (7) Caramello and Archie Hazlett Waikato, NZ, (9) Gerrys Boy and Sophie Woodhouse Otago, NZ, (10) Chaos and Kate Coppins Waikato, NZ.  The most consistent heat runners were (5) Mr Darcy and Caitlin Schneider Franklin, NZ, (11) Like a Hurricane and Brittney Edward - Franklin, NZ and (13) Frisbee and Olivia Sheehan Canterbury, NZ. 

All we can say for sure is this years Inter Dominion cup will be staying in New Zealand, the question is North or South.

You can find the fields on the NZ Interdominion KidzKartz Racing 2019 Facebook Page