South Africa will tackle the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night and earlier in the day a horse named after one of their favourite sons will be vying for Group One glory down the road at Ellerslie Racecourse.
Cambridge Stud’s Habana is named after former springbok Bryan Habana, who showed electrifying speed on the wing in his 124 tests for South Africa.
His equine namesake has inherited some of that speed, having won eight of his 24 starts, including the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m).
The seven-year-old gelding commenced his campaign with a pleasing third placing behind Tuxedo over 1400m at Ruakaka last month, pleasing his trainer Lance Noble ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m).
“I was pretty happy with his first-up run,” Noble said. “He had 62 kilos, the track deteriorated, and he likes a Good track. That is the beauty about Ellerslie, it will be good ground.
“He missed most of last year through having colic surgery. He has done a lot of work and I am happy with him, he is nice and bright.
“If he is back to his form before he had his surgery, I think he will be competitive. In saying that, it is a fantastic field on Saturday, that is the best of the best in New Zealand, so it won’t be easy.”
Noble will also be represented at the meeting by First Dance in the Sistema 1100.
The four-year-old daughter of Zousain represented owner Cambridge Stud’s slot in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March, finishing 12th, before being spelled.
She has had the one lead-in trial, finishing fourth over 950m on the Cambridge Synthetic last month, and Noble is hopeful of his mare featuring in the finish this weekend.
“She is fresh-up and trialled up nicely,” Noble said. “1100m is probably a bit short for her on Saturday, but she is nice and fresh, and rather than going back for a trial, we can run at Ellerslie for good money and hopefully get some of it.”
Meanwhile, Karaka-based Noble will head north to Ruakaka on Wednesday with two runners, including three-year-old filly Heloisia in The Homestead Sports Bar and Bistro 1200.
“I am happy with her,” Noble said. “She had two starts last season for a couple of nice thirds. She developed nicely from two to three and her trial was good the other day.
“With a three-year-old filly it is all about how they handle the spring, mentally and physically, and at the moment she is doing really well.”
Stablemate Daring Dame will also head north to contest the Kensington Tavern 1200.
The four-year-old mare has placed in all four of her starts to date, and Noble is confident she can breakthrough for her maiden win first-up.
“She had four good runs last year, she has just taken a bit of time to strengthen,” he said.
“Last year she was still a little bit weak. She has furnished again with the spell, and I think she will have a big campaign this time. I think she will go through the grades fairly quickly.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
