Dundeel staying Mare Ready for Return

Media Release - Thursday October 5

Classy mare Aquacade was dominant in staying company last season and commences an exciting spring campaign in a competitive Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) on Saturday.

Aquacade will resume in Saturday's Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The daughter of Dundeel had a stellar four-year-old season, winning four of her eight starts including victories in the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and the Dunstan Stayer’s Championship Final (2400m) for owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud.

“She’s good, she’s fresh-up over a mile which is a bit of a task for her, but we’ve got to kick her off somewhere and it fits in nicely,” trainer Lance Noble said.

“She’s had two nice trials that we were happy with, but with the wet weather last week the Cup has come up really strong, so she’ll improve with whatever she does and we’re pretty happy with her at this stage.”

A quality feature field has assembled following wet weather plaguing tracks across the North Island in recent weeks, resulting in Noble’s mare contesting the likes of Group One-winning mares Legarto and La Crique, alongside quality geldings in White Noise and last year’s victor Paisley Park.

“I think she’ll run a nice race, both of those two mares have had a run under their belt and are top-class so we’re up against it with them at this point in her campaign, but we have to get her going so it’s a nice race to kick-off,” Noble said.

Aquacade will use Saturday’s race as a stepping stone in what could be a lucrative campaign, Noble initially targeting next month’s Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m), before freshening her for the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) on Boxing Day.

Aquacade is a $9 third favourite for the Matamata Cup, behind Legarto at $1.70 and La Crique at $7.

Noble will also line-up Luberon, who is an $8 joint second favourite for next month’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, in the Matamata Veterinary Services – Equine 3YO (1400m) on Saturday.

Advertisement

Luberon was stakes-placed as a two-year-old in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m) and opened her three-year-old campaign with a bold win at Te Rapa under Warren Kennedy, who is aboard again at Matamata.

“She’s come through her first-up win really well, I thought that win was very strong, and she’s come on from then and is really thriving at the moment,” Noble said.

“She’s back against her own age group so there are two or three really nice three-year-olds in that field that will give us a good guide of where we go with her, but I think she’s up to it.”

A strong showing on Saturday will see Luberon head to the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) on October 28, a key lead-up event for Northern-based fillies before making the journey to Riccarton Park for the Guineas on the final day of New Zealand Cup Week.

Noble’s final runner at the Matamata meeting will be Iffin Doubt Dance, the consistent daughter of Iffraaj contesting the Comag Ltd Rating 65 (1400m).

“She’s fresh-up this campaign and 1400m is probably short of her best distance, I think she needs to get out to 1500m or further but she’s trialled up really well so I expect her to go a pretty bold race fresh,” he said.

“It’s probably a bit short but I wouldn’t be surprised if she put a good run in.”

Noble’s Karaka stable already produced a stunning victory this week, lightly-raced four-year-old Dazzled storming home wide from near last to take out the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) at Tauranga on Wednesday. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Pier Headed to Melbourne
Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier to test his talent in Melbourne.
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
2025 G1 Cox Plate Field and Barrier Draw
A field of nine has been finalised for the 2025 Cox Plate with favourite Via Sistina drawing gate seven for Chris Waller and James McDonald, while one three-year-old has accepted to run in Nepotism.
TBA Mourn Passing of So You Think
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse join the wider industry in mourning the passing of So You Think, one of the modern greats of the Australian turf and a truly elite sire.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.