One-in-a-million mare Final Touch (NZ) turned on another stellar performance to claim the G1 Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa.

Final Touch’s golden summer began with G1 wins in the Captain Cook Stakes and Telegraph Handicap at Trentham and she was out on her own again on Saturday beating Xanadu by over a length.

The South Island mare’s brilliant run of form left owner-trainer Karen Parsons struggling for superlatives.  “It’s breath-taking, unbelievable,” she said.  “She’s an angel to have around and is just ultra-competitive.”

Final Touch (5m Kashani – My Lydia by Umatilla) has a trans-Tasman autumn campaign in the pipeline with Parsons confirming the mare could be transferred to Chris Waller in Sydney.

Integral to the success of Final Touch has been her jockey Chris Johnson.  “She has got a few gears and makes my job easy,” he said.  “She sprinted quickly in the straight and held them easily enough.”

Runner-up Xanadu (Elusive City) was game in defeat while third-placed Zurella (Zabeel) thundered home over the closing stages.  Former Singapore star Better Than Ever (French Deputy) boxed on strongly for fourth after setting a good clip in front and Fleur de Lune (Stravinsky) was a brave fifth after racing on the leader’s quarters.

Final Touch is by pensioned Highview Stud sire Kashani (Danzig) and her Australian-bred dam My Lydia ceased breeding in 2008.

FINAL TOUCH
Kiwi mare heading to Australia