Enigmatic galloper Iffididit put his best foot forward when he scored fresh-up after a two-month break by taking out the feature flat event at Riverton on Easter Monday, the Max Winders Shearing/South Pacific Meats Thornbury Handicap (1400m).
The Anna Furlong-prepared five-year-old thrives on rain affected surfaces and the Heavy10 surface at Riverton proved ideal for his resumption as he settled back in the field before being sent forward by apprentice jockey Yogesh Atchamah with 700m to run.
Iffididit stalked former northerner Chevron around the home bend and gained the upper hand over that runner at the 200m, drawing clear to win by half a length as Master Marko boxed on solidly for third.
Furlong, who was back at home in Christchurch, was delighted with both the ride and the win.
“He’s a nice horse who enjoys the sting out of the tracks, so conditions were perfect for him today,” Furlong said.
“He just can’t cop too many runs on the hard ground so we put him away for a few weeks and brought him back for today. It was a top effort and a lovely ride by Yogesh.
“He can be a pretty quirky customer and Yogesh is one of the few that actually get on with him. To be fair, the horse has been a little different right from his first day in the stable, but we all love him.
“Now the tracks are how he likes them I think we could line him up at Riccarton in a couple of weeks as there is a nice race (Easter Cup) over a mile that will suit him.”
Iffididit is out of the Ustinov mare Ididit, who won on five occasions and was stakes placed in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). He comes from an extended family that includes former quality Australian sprinter Biscayne Bay.