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Idyllic is far from what Kate Hercock would describe the past 10 days, but a speedy mare with that name afforded her a moment of solace in Thursday’s Rose City Cars Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.

Hercock tragically lost her fiancé Danny Champion last Monday and the Otaki meeting was her first back in the saddle since his passing. In a competitive open sprint, she continued her association with Stephen and Kevin Gray's Idyllic, of whom she partnered to win the Rating 75 1000m contest at Tauherenikau earlier this month.

The daughter of No Nay Never has trademark early speed, and despite being slightly slow away, she soon kicked up to take over the pacemaking role with Amend in close quarters. The $3.10 favourite Lazio settled in the one-one and was giving away a decent margin to Idyllic turning for home, but the mare was never in danger as she powered to victory by just shy of two lengths to Amend and Perfectsister.

Hercock saluted crossing the line and was understandably full of emotion returning to scale.

"Everyone thinks that I'm really tough, but at the end of the day, I'm still a human," she said. "I know what we do for a job is tough, but I think the last seven days of my life has been the toughest part.

"The only reason you want to get out of bed is to live Dan's dream of training the horses and making him proud.

"She's an easy ride, she loves being out in front and she rates herself. She botched the start a little bit and I thought oh no, I'm going to be slow away, but she's got such good turn of foot.

"When I got to the 400m, I thought right, this one's for Danny. I did everything, I didn't care if I was going to get excessive use of the stick today, I wasn't getting beat."

Idyllic  is establishing herself as a serious prospect for the upcoming summer sprint features, with Kevin Gray expressing plenty of pride in the six-year-old.

"She's a front-running horse, she works that way, and I don't do anything to try and change her," he said.

"I'm very proud of her, she's put on nearly 20kgs since last year and she's doing everything you want her to do.

"It's not easy to get horses like this, John Cameron who manages and part-owns her has been very good to me and I've known him for a number of years. To have a horse like this for him, as well as the stable, I'm very pleased.

"I'd like to say that the young girl that does the work with her, she does everything on her and has been brilliant. She's not an easy horse to ride, because man, can she pull."

Initially passed in when presented by Wentwood Grange at the 2020 Karaka Yearling Sales, Idyllic was retained by breeder John Cameron and she has gone on to win five races from 17 starts and just shy of $130,000 in stakes. Out of a Lonhro mare Idlewild, Idyllic is a half-sister to promising filly Romilly, who contests Saturday's Listed The O'Leary's Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui.