Wow what a start to Harness Jewels Day today (Saturday) at Ashburton Raceway! Not only did Kiwi Ingenuity endorse her reputation as New Zealand's best pacing mare but she also smashed the New Zealand all-comers mile (1609m mobile) record by 1.4 seconds.

The Christian Cullen mare was simply a class above her 11 opponents in the $200,000 TV3 4yo Diamond Pace. She paced the mile in a slashing 1:52.15 beating the previous record of 1:53.5 held jointly by Auckland Reactor and Scuse Me. "It doesn't get any better than this. She deserves a well-earned break now," said her Leithfield Beach trainer-driver Robbie Holmes.

Asked if he was now going to spell her with a New Zealand Cup mission in mind, Holmes said he would probably by-pass that event in favour of a Miracle Mile start at Sydney's Menangle Raceway a couple of weeks after the Cup. "I've been over to Sydney to look at the track and it's one that will suit her down to the ground.

The New Zealand Cup might be a bit tough for her and I think she would perform better in the Mile race. We have to get an invite first though, so fingers cross," Holmes said. "She loves the mile," he stressed. Starting from the widest second row draw (13) Kiwi Ingenuity settled back two out near the rear but made her move heading into the back straight the final time.

When she secured the lead on the far turn it was virtually game over there and then! Trigirl Brigade (Andrew Neal) and Eyecatcher Courage (James Stormont) were second and third. Kiwi Ingenuity has now won nine of her 18 starts and placed in six others for $376,479 in career stakes.