Racing: Noble dismisses talk of Ballymore shift

Lance Noble yesterday put to death racing's persistent rumour that he was to join the Moroney brothers Mike and Paul at Ballymore Stables.

He was much happier discussing Nordic Dancer, who similarly put paid to $350,000 Pick6 punters by destroying the favourite Sculptor in the $40,000 Garry Keith Motors Cambridge Trophy at Te Rapa.

Noble said that some time back he'd been asked for an expression of interest in filling the vacant position at Ballymore when Andrew Scott moved to join Lance O'Sullivan.

"But it was never a formal offer. I asked for time to think about it, and then decided I was happy to stay where I am.

"I've got a few nice horses coming through."

Nordic Dancer is definitely one of them.

The filly might have had earnings of only $750 going into Saturday's race, but Noble has long fancied her as a coming staying type in wet conditions and threw in a nomination for the Queensland Oaks before the weekend.

Nordic Dancer's dam Danish Habit is a Danehill half-sister to Rough Habit.

"That's why when it rained we started to think she had a chance," said Noble.

The filly is owned by New Zealand Racing board member and tax expert Alan Jackson, in partnership with his wife, Colleen.

Jackson wrote the paper that indirectly led to racing's recently-announced tax break.

Winning rider Michael Coleman decided that when your lucks in, it's in.

Coleman had the chance to ride Sculptor, but instead chose Wilkies Paint.

When heavy overnight rain caused Wilkies Paint to be scratched on Saturday morning, Coleman, at 8.30am, was offered the mount on Nordic Dancer, who had been on the emergency list.

In a grinding finish, Nordic Dancer outstayed Sculptor by a long neck with 4 1/2 lengths back to Winsome Kash.

"She was weak earlier on and she still is a bit weak," said Noble.

"She'll get better."

Reality is somewhat standing in the way of making a decision about Queensland.

"It's a big call to come from a maiden in the first week in May to winning the Queensland Oaks in mid-June," said Noble.

"She'll definitely get the 2400m distance, but she may need the rain to be competitive.

"Perhaps if there was a shocking wet miserable winter in Queensland you might think about the Oaks," the trainer said.

Peter McKenzie was not definite, but thought he might press ahead with a Queensland Derby start for Scupltor.

Fair enough- after all the horse did not do a lot wrong at Te Rapa at the weekend.