The 2024-25 season is about to move up a gear for Lance Noble, who has eight entries this weekend including highly talented mare Luberon in Sunday’s Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua.
Imported mare Terra Mitica impressed during her first New Zealand campaign and she firmly indicated there was more improvement to come this time around with an eye-catching trial on Tuesday.
Well-performed four-year-old Holymanz has arrived at part-owner Cambridge Stud’s training facility at Karaka to continue his build-up toward a potentially lucrative hit-and-run mission.
Warren Kennedy has stamped an indelible mark on New Zealand racing with the ex-pat South African jockey dominating proceedings at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day with seven wins, including four of the five feature events on the card.
Lance Noble had a bumper New Year’s Day race meeting 12 months ago and has the firepower for a repeat at Pukekohe on Monday, but weather and track conditions have dented the Cambridge Stud trainer’s confidence.
Progressive mare Flamebird made up for an unlucky run in stakes company at her last start to register career win number four when she dashed home to take the Stella Artois 1500m Championship Qualifier (1400m) at Pukekohe.
