A typically brilliant Chris Johnson ride helped the John and Karen Parsons-trained 5yr-old down leading northern gallopers Rock On Wood and Shadows Cast to claim the 1400m group 2 feature.
Johnson found a spot along the rail for Kiwi Ida shortly after she jumped well at the start.
They worked off the inner before the home turn and followed favourite Rock On Wood around the home turn before sling-shotting him and winning by half a head.
"I got back past midfield but got out at the right time," Johnson said.
"She came into it nicely and I ended up behind the right horse turning in. She found enough to hold him off.
"She’s honest and you just have to look at her record as she hasn’t missed many times."
Saturday’s win was Kiwi Ida’s 13th from 40 starts.
The mare took travel delays in her stride and did not let them put her off her game.
"She was trained to the minute and although we had a bit of trouble getting up here, she seemed to cope with it."
Rock On Wood ran well in his first attempt on a soft track to run second.
Shadows Cast put in a good trial before his Thordon Mile defence to run third.
Visiting Cambridge mare Concert Hall was back to her brilliant best when she demolished her opposition in the Manawatu Cup over 2300m.
Rider Ryan Elliot secured a nice run for the 5yr-old just behind the speed after jumping from a wide barrier and had her cruising approaching the home corner.
When asked for an effort, she harged away in the run home to win by four lengths from a brave Platinum Invador with topweight Dolcetto fighting on bravely for third.
