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.
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.
Gifted performer Aquacade has bounced back from a last-start hiccup and is on target to execute a long-term plan when she steps out at Pukekohe Park on Boxing Day.
Cambridge Stud’s imported mare Terra Mitica recorded her first New Zealand win with a powerful staying performance in Saturday’s $65,000 Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (2100m) at Pukekohe.
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.
Luberon will bid to complete a hat-trick of wins on Saturday and remain undefeated this preparation ahead of her spring grand final at Riccarton next month.
Promising filly Luberon confirmed she is right on schedule for a trip to Christchurch later in the spring, dashing into joint-favouritism with a victory at Matamata.
