Stable star Final Touch (NZ) is back in work with John and Karen Parsons at Christchurch in readiness for her last spring campaign.

Final Touch (5m Kashani – My Lydia by Umatilla) won 6 of her 12 starts this season including Group 1 victories in the Captain Cook Stakes, Telegraph Handicap and Waikato Draught Sprint.  “Our options are pretty limited, especially at weight-for-age,” Karen Parsons explained.  “She went out in peak condition and has come in looking fabulous.”

While quick to quell any rumours of retirement, Parsons noted finding suitable races for the rising six-year-old mare was going to be far from easy with a rating of 108.  A trip across the Tasman is certainly in the mix although that does brings back memories of an unsuccessful Australian campaign with her Group 1 winner Diablo Girl (NZ) in 1996.

“It’s been a breath-taking ride, unbelievable,” Parsons admitted.  “She’s an angel to have around and is just ultra-competitive.”

Final Touch is by pensioned Highview Stud sire Kashani (Danzig) and her Australian-bred dam My Lydia ceased breeding in 2008.