Final Touch completed a notable double by winning the $45,000 Timaru Cup yesterday, two days after success in the Berkley Stud Stakes of the same value at Wingatui.
The 4yr-old mare, owned by Karen Parsons, the trainer with her husband John, gave the stable a fifth Timaru Cup win and jockey Kylie Williams her fourth.
The stable won the Timaru Cup with Diablo Girl (1995), Portofino Bay (2003), Coup Morgan (2004) and Pins `N' Needles (2006).
Williams rode Pins `N' Needles and she has also won the race on Sapphire Belle (2005) and Aubwin (2000).
"I thought it was a really good ride by Kylie today as Final Touch drew out a bit and the hardest horses to beat were drawn inside her," Karen Parsons said.
Final Touch will now target the $200,000 Thorndon Handicap (1660m) at Trentham on January 28.
Final Touch came close to death as a 3yr-old last season.
"She nearly died she was so crook after she beat King's Rose at Motukarara," Parsons said. "She had this incredibly high temperature and the vet said it was touch and go if she could be saved." Firelight was also a winner for the stable yesterday with Williams the rider.
It was shades of Show Gate yesterday. Show Gate won the Timaru Cup (1600m) under 55.5kg in 1976, the day after she had carried 60.5kg to win the Dunedin Cup (2400m).
• Atomic Force, the Australian visitor, has drawn 15 in the $200,000 Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. She will start from 11 if the emergencies do not make the field.
Cassini, winner of the Manawatu and Wanganui Cups, has topweight of 58kg in the City Of Auckland Cup.
