Lance Noble’s Karaka stable has made a fast start to the season and the momentum promises to roll on to Pukekohe on Saturday with an in-form team of five to do battle.
The private trainer for Cambridge Stud has sent out eight winners this term with 19 in 2022/23 his highest tally, which included a best haul of four stakes successes, since joining Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s operation.
He has posted a black-type brace this season and has prospects to advance that record at the weekend with Aquacade in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) and Flamebird in the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
Noble was a Group One-winning trainer in his own right before he moved from Matamata to take up his current role and he’s never had cause to regret that decision.
“There’s very few jobs like this, if any, in New Zealand and I’m very fortunate to have Brendan and Jo and Cambridge Stud’s support,” he said.
“I can concentrate on training and the facilities are fantastic and I haven’t got the added pressures of running the business.
“I am very, very grateful and aware of how fortunate I am. It’s coming up to seven years here now and time flies, my oldest son hadn’t started college then and now he’s in his second year at university.”
Quality Dundeel mare Aquacade and rider Warren Kennedy promise to be a formidable combination in the Cup following their last-start success in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m) on the track earlier this month.
“I know Aquacade has got topweight and she’s a pretty good mare. I know it’s back to a handicap and she’s got 59kg, but she is really well,” Noble said.
“She is a big mare too so I think she can carry the weight and you always worry about those lighter-weighted horses might get the advantage on you, but I’m going in with a really well and fit horse.”
Flamebird was a course and distance winner at her most recent appearance to earn the daughter of Shooting To Win a crack at the Breeders’ Stakes in the hands of Kennedy.
“There was a Rating 74 race over 1400m as well for her, but she’s in good form and we’re a stud so black type in hugely important,” Noble said.
“It may be a little soon for her, but she’s in good form and it’s just down the road. If we can get a few breaks and sneak a bit of black type we would be thrilled.”
On the undercard, Dazzled will step out in the Franklin Long Roofing (1200m) with Iffin Doubt Dance in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship (2100m) and Polygon to tackle the Ellerslie Events Handicap (1600m).
“I think a case could be made that Dazzled should have nearly won last start,” Noble said. “She’s flying at the moment and she’s a really good hope.”
The Pierro four-year-old was a first-up winner at Tauranga before she finished runner-up at Pukekohe after an interrupted run and will be partnered by Kennedy, as will Iffin Doubt Dance.
She was at double figure odds when she successfully resumed and the Iffraaj mare followed up with a fifth placing over 1600m.
“She didn’t cope with the wet track last time, she was good fresh-up when she won and then it got pretty wet at Te Aroha,” Noble said.
“She was in the wrong part of the track and stepping up to 21oom will suit her and I think she’ll go well.”
Dual Group winner Polygon, the mount of Vinnie Colgan, made late ground to finish seventh when resuming and is expected to continue to improve as she is stepped up in distance.
“She was okay last time and probably came to the end of it,” Noble said.
“I wasn’t initially going to go to Pukekohe, but she dropped a few rating points and I expect her go better again and then she’ll be ready to step up to 2000m."