Trainer Lance Noble is in for a busy 24-hours this weekend.
The Karaka horseman will saddle his two stable stars on either side of the Tasman as he looks to embellish their already strong black-type records.
The private trainer for Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, Noble is currently in Sydney with quality three-year-old filly Polygon, who will contest Friday’s Gr.3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m).
“She has done well, it took a few days, but we are really happy with how she has carried on,” Noble said.
“She had a gallop on Monday and worked really well. I am happy with her, she looks nice and bright, her coat is good.”
The Highly Recommended filly won her two previous starts in New Zealand, the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni in December and Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day, and Noble said they have kept her up to the mark.
“I think she is pretty forward,” he said. “We didn’t throw her out in the paddock after the Royal Stakes for three weeks, she was ticking over on the water walker and bits and pieces.
“She is naturally pretty fit and had a trial before she left, I think she is pretty forward for it.
“The forecast is good so the track will be in good order and I think this is an achievable target.”
Safely through Friday, Polygon will get her shot at Group One glory in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill later this month before a potential tilt at the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 8.
“All going well, the Vinery is the plan, but she has to put her hand up on Friday,” Noble said.
“If she does, the Vinery is in two weeks and then the Oaks two weeks later.”
After overseeing proceedings in New South Wales, Noble will return home to Auckland on Saturday to watch Aquacade contest the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m).
“I head back to New Zealand Saturday morning, I’ll make sure Polygon is okay then get on a flight. I might miss a couple of runners but I should be there for the Cup,” Noble said.
Aquacade heads into the race in red-hot form, having won her last three starts, including a 2-3/4 length victory in the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) last month.
The win cemented her favouritism for the Auckland Cup, with TAB bookmakers installing her a $2.70 favourite for the race ahead of Ladies Man at $4.20.
The daughter of Dundeel has continued to please in her work and Noble is confident of another bold showing this weekend.
“All reports are that she is in good nick. She is in a similar frame of mind and condition as what she went into the Avondale Cup in,” Noble said.
“She comes in with a lovely weight (53kg). There are a couple of new entries, Leaderboard, Ladies Man and Moroney’s horse (Nerve Not Verve) that need a bit of respect, but we are favourite for a reason.”
Noble will also line-up Flamebird in the Jamieson Park 1200 and Habana in the Alpha First Mortgage Investments 1400.
“Flamebird is fresh up, it is a rating 65 worth $70,000 so it is worth having a crack at. She has worked up well,” Noble said.
“I’m happy to send Habana back to Pukekohe, he has won two out of two there. He disappointed at Te Rapa but sometmes Te Rapa can do that.
“I’m hoping it was just that he didn’t cop Te Rapa that well. All indications are that he has worked up well, so you’d like to see him bounce back being right-handed on a track he has performed on.” – NZ Racing Desk
