"I was raised in Christchurch but I have been gone for nine years and it is great to come over and look after the horse and see the family," Lawrence said at Riccarton yesterday morning.
She worked in the hospitality industry in Christchurch and initially in Melbourne when she shifted to Australia.
She competed in eventing with horses in Christchurch and has been with Plumpton trainer Patrick Payne for the past seven years. She is the travelling strapper for the stable.
She took Kerdem and stablemate Capecover by road in a truck to Adelaide in March, an eight-hour trip. Capecover won the Adelaide Cup, with Kerdem second.
It was over 3200m, the distance tomorrow. Capecover confirmed that form when second to Moudre in the Queen's Cup (2600m) at Flemington last Saturday.
Kerdem also finished second to Zavite in the 2009 Adelaide Cup.
Kerdem ran fifth over 2800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day. He arrived at Riccarton on Tuesday after a flight from Melbourne via Auckland.
"I am really happy with him," Lawrence said.
"I was lucky enough to get a paddock at the racecourse through Les Didham. It is like a home away from home."
Kerdem had a trot and canter yesterday morning.
He is the mount of Opie Bosson.
Titch, whom Bosson rode to win over 2000m at Riccarton on Saturday, is also an acceptor for the New Zealand Cup. The Kevin Myers-trained Titch stretched his winning sequence to six, which includes a 3050m flat win and three hurdles in Victoria.
