Cambridge Stud Retire Dundeel's G2 Winner Aquacade

Media Release - Tuesday March 19

Multiple Group-winning mare Aquacade will begin the next phase of her career later this year.

Time has been called on the racing days of Dundeel’s daughter with the five-year-old to become a valuable addition to Cambridge Stud’s broodmare band.

Group One performer Aquacade has been retired.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Trained at Karaka by Lance Noble for breeder-owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Aquacade performed up to the highest level with seven victories and six placings and only twice missed a top five finish from 19 appearances.

“She has been fantastic and that’s what we’re here for, to try and develop fillies and mares into broodmares and get black type,” Noble said.

“To be able to do that with her has provided a great sense of achievement. She was so consistent and has been retired happy and sound.

“She could possibly have raced again next season, but she doesn’t have anything left to prove and will make a lovely broodmare.”

Aquacade’s career highlights included successes in the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m), and gained an elite level credit when third in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2050m).

“After last season and rightfully so, she went up in the ratings from the bottom of the handicap up to 57, 58 and 59kg against the younger ones coming through that have the weight advantages, especially over ground,” Noble said.

“We made a conscious decision at the beginning of this season to see if we could crack a Group One and she got that Group One placing in the Zabeel.

“She was really a 2200-2400m horse and maybe lacked that turn of foot to be a 2000m weight-for-age horse, but she acquitted herself really well in those races against some very good horses.”

Aquacade is a daughter of the unraced Sea The Stars mare Forest Of Seas and a pedigree that includes international stakes-winning stayers Sea Of Heartbreak, Self Defense, Degas Art and Puncher Clynch.

Advertisement

“She took a bit of time to develop and ran third in the Royal Stakes (Gr.2, 2000m) as a three-year-old and as a four and five-year-old really came to the party,” Noble said.

“I am very happy and satisfied that she has been retired safe and well, she hasn’t been over-raced and with her size, temperament and pedigree, she is going to make a lovely broodmare.

“Early on, like most young horses, she had her quirks but the more we did with her the more professional she became and was an easy horse to train.”

Meanwhile, promising mare and last-start Rangitoto Classic (1500m) winner Jaarffi will step up in grade at Tauranga on Saturday.

“All being well, she’ll run in the Japan Trophy (Gr.2, 1600m),” Noble said.

“We did look at the Group One (New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, 1600m), but felt it was a little bit too soon at weight-for-age against seasoned and quality mares.

“The Japan Trophy sits better at set weights and penalties, and she gets in on the minimum. She will be better next season, but we will test the waters and hopefully get a bit of black type.”

Noble has enjoyed a rewarding 2023/24 with 19 winners, including four at Group or Listed level, with a number of the team now out for well-deserved breaks.

“It’s been a fantastic season and will quieten down on the racing front,” Noble said. “We’ll look to the yearlings now who are being broken in and will then come into through the system.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Entries open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale
Magic Millions is proud to announce the launch of Magic Millions Digital, a new online auction platform, with entries now open for the first scheduled sale.
G3 Coongy Target for Almanzor Mare
Andrew Forsman’s mare Positivity will look to make her presence felt on the middle day of the Caulfield Cup Carnival on Wednesday, taking on the feature Gr.3 Coongy Cup Handicap (2000m).
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 14
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Dundeel Mare Wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
Cambridge Stud and their private trainer Lance Noble celebrated a memorable afternoon at Pukekohe on Tuesday with a clean sweep of the feature events and a winning undercard double.
Stunning Frankel Stallion Diego Velasquez Retired to National Stud
A memorable winner of the 2025 Group I Prix Jacques le Marois, flashy Frankel stallion Diego Velasquez has been retired and will take up stud duties at the National Stud in 2026.
Dundeel Mare Chasing First G1
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.
900,000 Guineas Starspangledbanner Filly Tops Second Day of Book 2
Australian bred Starspangledbanner is riding high this year siring 12 stakes-winners in 2025 headed by his dual Group I winning filly Precise and he produced the top lot during the second session of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale with Islanmore Stud’s stunning chestnut filly fetching 900,000 guineas to become the second highest priced filly in the sale’s history.
G1 Goal for Dundeel Mare Aquacade
Karaka horseman Lance Noble has Group One targets in mind for three members of his stable while another will head toward a newly created $1 million summer event.
Shamexpress and the Ka Ying Rising Effect
At Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge, pride runs deep in the paddocks where so many champions have been nurtured.
Inglis Ready2Race Links
Inspections are underway at the Inglis Riverside sales complex for the Ready2Race Sale which starts on Thursday so here’s our links to useful data including the pinhook report.