Racing: Speedy Kiwi Ingenuity shines in comeback trial

Kiwi Ingenuity and trainer Robbie Holmes. Photo / Greg Bowker

Top Canterbury mare Kiwi Ingenuity won a workout at Addington yesterday in her first public appearance since she underwent surgery on her knees last February.

"We were delighted with the way she performed," Carla Robertson-Holmes, the wife of trainer, Robbie Holmes, said.

Kiwi Ingenuity, the winner of 11 of her 23 starts and holder of the New Zealand mile race record of 1:52.1, has not raced since December, when she won the group one Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park.

She was restricted to five starts last season and also finished fourth in the Miracle Mile at Menangle.

Knee problems came to a head with lameness in February, causing her to miss the Premiers Mares' Championship and NZ Breeders' Stakes, two races she won in 2009.

X-rays failed to pinpoint the problem and she underwent arthroscopic surgery on her knees. Two chips were found and removed from her left knee.

Kiwi Ingenuity was spelled for three months after the operation and returned to work three months ago.

She started from 40m in her workout yesterday and won by a 1 lengths from Choise Achiever in 3:21.3 for the 2600m, the last 800m in 55.7 and 400m in 26.2.

She is likely to resume in a $25,000 standing-start free-for-all at Addington on Friday week. She won fresh up from a standing start at Ashburton last October.

Choise Achiever, the winner of four of his six starts, has not raced since March.

The Tim Butt-trained gelding is eligible for the S40,000 Superstars Championship on Friday week.

Amenophis sped over 1950m (mobile) in a 1:59.4 mile rate to win his workout by 1 lengths yesterday. He has been entered for Addington on Thursday night and Oamaru on Sunday, after running seventh at Addington last Friday.

Hands Christian won his workout in a 2:03.9 rate. The Mark Purdon- Grant Payne-trained 3-year-old won at Invercargill in March at his only start.