It's 'Karma' that the 'Kiwi' would win

It was KIWI KARMA first and the others, well, thereabouts.

The Laurie Laxon-trained sprinter lived up to her pre-race form when she put away the opposition in convincing fashion to win the Magic Million National Yearling Stakes by an extremely healthy two lengths.

That said, it could have been four or even five lengths had race jockey Manoel Nunes pulled the stick on his mount.

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But, the way things panned out, there was no need for the persuader as Kiwi Karma always had her mind on the job - which was extremely commendable for one so young.

Never one to wax lyrical about his charges, trainer Laxon allowed himself the luxury of praising his two-year-old - if only a little bit.

"It was a very professional run," said the reigning champion trainer. "She picks them up and puts them down."

Nunes, who also won the opening race on BEAUTIFUL WORLD and Race 7 on DARCI CHARMER, was more forthcoming. He, too, agreed with Laxon that it was a "very professional job".

Then he eleborated: "It was straight-forward victory. She jumped out cleanly and from then it was easy.

"I would say she improved a lot in the last month. She was more relaxed and I knew I was on a very strong horse."

Strong, indeed. Kiwi Karma clocked a fine time of 1min 10.27sec for the trip - a tad faster than debut winner DAY BY DAY who, just a race earlier, won the Initiation over the same trip in 1min 10.50sec. For the record, Day By Day carried 56kg as opposed to Kiwi Karma's 57kg.

First out of the gates in the 1,200m sprint, Nunes - the leading jockey at Kranji - assumed the role of conductor of an orchestra, dictating the tune and tempo from the word "go".

Kiwi Karma was an obedient pupil - doing everything that was asked of her.

UNBEATABLE LEAD

Clearing the 800m, the two-year-old by Fast N Furious had a length's break on MASURAO and CONFEIGN. Kept well in check by Nunes, she hit the top of the straight with an unbeatable lead.

Over in the stands, her legion of fans would have known that they were onto a winner. If not for the fact that they wanted to be witness to Kiwi Karma's win in the Magic Millions, they could have made their way to the payout window and no one would have batted an eyelid.

But they stayed on - in the grandstand, on the lawn and by the railings to cheer the chestnut filly as she cruised to the line.

And cruise, she did. With 250m to go, she had already streeted the opposition which boasted some talented youngsters who could in a season or two, be dominating the Kranji racing scene.

With the finish in sight, Nunes had the easy job of just nursing her to the line in the $90,000 race.

The two-year-olds will again face the starter on May 16 in the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe.

Yesterday, Kiwi Karma rewarded her backers with an $8 payout on the win. ROCK ESPRIT, who took second, paid $12 while third-placed Confeign paid $7.

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It was a very professional run. She picks them up and puts them down.

— Trainer Laurie Laxon on Kiwi Karma