Jaarffi will represent sponsors Cambridge Stud in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Photo / Kenton Wright
Nearly a decade after taking up the mantle as private trainer to Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Jo Lady Lindsay, Lance Noble has delivered results he hopes to embellish at one of New Zealand racing’s biggest events, Boxing Day at Ellerslie.
From his base at Lindsay Racing’s Karaka facility, Noble has prepared more than 120 winners in the gold and black Cambridge Stud colours, and with a select team lining up on the first big day of the holiday racing season, he’s looking for more.
Noble’s team is headed by Jaarffi in the Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m), a multiple stakes-placed 6-year-old seeking her first major win.
He will saddle up two runners, topweight Mollify and Daring Dame, in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Final, as well as First Dance in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final, Frostfair in the Entain/NZB Pearl Series and 2-year-old debutante Liguria in the SkyCity 1100.
“Part of the brief when I accepted this role was to target the big days,” Noble said. “Brendan and Jo love racing at Ellerslie, especially on these feature days, so to have six runners in their colours on Boxing Day and another couple for New Year’s Day from a team of 24, that’s very satisfying, a big effort from everyone involved.
“Mind you, they’ve still got to front up, but we’re not there just to make up the numbers. They’ve all got the credentials to perform in the races we’ve set them for.”
Jaarffi meets opposition to compare with the very best Zabeel Classic fields, headed by triple Group 1 winner Waitak, reigning Horse of the Year El Vencedor and perennial Group 1 bridesmaid La Crique.
Add quality performers such as Legarto, Qali Al Farrasha and Victorian raider Kingswood, and Jaarffi’s attempt at a black-type breakthrough will be no pushover.
“Yes, it’s a very strong field, as good as you could expect, but our mare has had an ideal build-up, she loves the track and is drawn well,” Noble said.
“She had no luck when she was just beaten in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes [Group 1, 1600m] here in March, so I’d like to think she can be right in it.”
The stronger of Noble’s double hand in the Dunstan Stayers Final (2400m) is Mollify, who has earned her 59kg topweight with wins at her last two starts.
“She has come a long way pretty quickly and it’s fair to say she deserves to be topweight.
“She does put herself in a race and it’s reassuring that she has followed a similar path to our two earlier winners of this race, About Time and Aquacade.
“Daring Dame’s form is a bit patchy, but a couple of things have gone against her and she’s at a good spot down in the weights.
“Frostfair had an excuse for her last performance at Te Rapa when she blew the start, so you can put a line through that. She’s such a big mare, she can get a bit claustrophobic if she’s in the gates too long.
“Her previous form was good and also in her favour is her record on the track and over the [1400m] distance.
“Our Stella Artois Final runner First Dance was beaten a nose at her last start by Moxie, who is the likely favourite in this race, and the time before she finished second to Smart Love.
“She has an ideal draw and I’m very happy with her.”
First Dance acted as babysitter for Noble’s Boxing Day debutante Liguria at Monday’s Ellerslie gallops session and both pleased with their work on the course proper.
Liguria represents a significant phase in Noble’s time at Lindsay Racing, being the daughter of one of his early feature performers in the same colours, Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes winner Vernazza.
“That’s the beauty of my role here, the fantastic bloodlines I get to work with, and Liguria is no better example, being by Snitzel from a very good galloper.
“She’s a first foal and has really strengthened and developed lately. She has a beautiful action and has run two nice trials and up against what you could call a pretty even field, I’m looking forward to seeing how she goes.
“You have to be realistic going into these sorts of days. Everyone’s primed for a crack at the good stakes and it will be very competitive racing, but we’re just happy to be part of it.”
– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk