KEY POINTS:
Robbie Holmes has pledged payback for punters with Kiwi Ingenuity at Addington tonight.
Holmes trains and drives the exceptional 4-year-old pacing mare who cost punters a fortune when relegated from first at Ashburton last Saturday.
Kiwi Ingenuity led almost throughout to win a strong mile race but was put back to 10th for tightening a rival heading into the first bend, who in turn checked two others, putting one out of the race.
None of those affected had any chance of beating Kiwi Ingenuity, who won effortlessly, and Holmes thinks the decision was wrong.
"I think putting her out was far too serious and I feel for the punters who backed her," said Holmes.
"Then they fined me $600 for all the trouble I caused the punters. I hope they [stipendiary stewards] intend to spread that money around between the punters who lost out because the stipes sure don't deserve it."
While gutted to lose last Saturday's race, Holmes said the performance proved one thing heading into tonight's $100,000 PGG Wrightson Breeders Stakes.
"She has never been better," enthuses Holmes. "I'll admit when I saw Nearea Franco winning the Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park in December we had our work cut out to beat her this summer - but my mare has just kept improving.
"Right now I would say we are at least as good as Nearea Franco."
That could be good enough to win tonight as Kiwi Ingenuity has drawn the front line and Nearea Franco the second line in the 2600m mobile.
The pair met over 1950m on this track two starts ago and Kiwi Ingenuity spanked Nearea Franco even after having a harder run.
If the pair race up to their form of that night again tonight then Kiwi Ingenuity will win but Nearea Franco looks certain to be better.
Her trainer Steven McRae told the Herald tonight's race was always his prime aim with Nearea Franco.
He looks to have timed his run to perfection judging by the way Nearea Franco downed Monkey King in a mares' national record time at Forbury Park last Friday.
The win suggested she may still be the best mare in the country and whichever of the favoured pair wins tonight could be determined by who can work their way to the front the quickest.
"My mare is very good in front but so is Nearea Franco and we can't both get there and stay there," admitted Holmes. "But I have the better draw, in fact I think six is perfect. From there we can keep rolling forward and if we lead we will be staying there because she will love 2600m around Addington."
While it is hard to see any of their rivals beating the wonderful mares, there is ample depth in the field.
The chasers could be headed by Special Ops, fourth in the New Zealand Cup in November. She was outpaced over 1950m last start but will appreciate the extra distance and may take advantage if the favourites attack each other.
$100,000 STAKES
* Kiwi Ingenuity and Nearea Franco clash in tonight's $100,000 PGG Breeders Stakes at Addington.
* They have both been fantastic this summer, although Kiwi Ingenuity cost punters a fortune when relegated last Saturday.
* Kiwi Ingenuity's trainer, Robbie Holmes, says punters can get their money back tonight.75
