Images courtesy of Lilywhites Lodge
The 33-year-old enjoyed a particularly lucrative association with the Don Walker-bred, owned and trained Postmans Daughter (NZ) (Postponed {USA}), who provided him with a Group 3 victory in the Taranaki Breeders’ S. and multiple Group placings.
“I was in Australia and I came out here when I was renewing my visa in Australia. That was in 2010 and I just stayed,” said Nolan, who retired from the saddle three years ago.
He has since established a horse breaking business and that has led to him presenting his first draft under his Lilywhites Lodge banner at next week’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
“They are all through Mark Chitty’s Haunui Stud and their clients. I broke in eight or nine horses for Mark last year and I broke in 38 horses for him this year,” Nolan said.
“He asked me if I’d do the draft and since I did break them all in Mark invited my partner Sophia Orting, who worked for Murray Baker for eight years, and I to do it.
Gallery: Breaking and pre-training at Lilywhites Lodge
“All the horses have shaped up very nicely and for my first draft I feel really lucky for the horses Mark has given me.
“All the horses have shaped up very nicely and for my first draft I feel really lucky for the horses Mark has given me." – Derek Nolan
“I sold a couple last year for myself through Shane Crawford’s Regal Farm so I’ve had a little bit of experience. It’s hard work, but it’s good.
“I still ride a bit of trackwork at Pukekohe for a few different trainers and I’ve got a barn at Byerley Park to establish myself breaking-in and pre-training.”
Trackwork at Pukekohe
Nolan is operating under his Lilywhites banner, an obvious choice of name for more than one reason.
“I’m from County Kildare, obviously the Curragh is there, and my town and the football teams are known as the Lilywhites,” he said. “My daughter’s name is Lily as well so it all means a lot to me.”
So does Nolan’s Ready to Run Sale draft, which he described as a top quality line up of 2-year-olds featuring a couple of stand-outs.
Watch: Lot 323 breeze-up
“My pick would be the Iffraaj out of Colombelle, he’s just an outstanding horse. The Tavistock filly is a lovely type and she breezed up well,” he said.
“My pick would be the Iffraaj out of Colombelle, he’s just an outstanding horse.” – Derek Nolan
Lot 323 is the son of Iffraaj (GB) and his dam is an unraced half-sister by Zabeel (NZ) to the Group 3 winner and top broodmare Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}).
She has produced the Group 2 winners Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and Vilanova (NZ) (Commands), the Group 3 winner Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park) and the Group 1 performer Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Watch: Lot 389 breeze-up
The Tavistock (NZ) filly is Lot 389 and she is out of the G3 Adrian Knox S. winner Full Of Spirit (Flying Spur) and she is a half-sister to the former New Zealand Horse of the Year and multiple Group 1 winner Bonneval (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
“There’s also a couple of Showcasings there and one of them has a full sister in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas on Saturday,” Nolan said.
Possible classic update
Lot 251 is a brother to classic contender and stakes winner Flaunting (NZ) while the other Showcasing, Lot 135, is out of the unraced Push The Boat Out (Henrythenavigator {USA}), a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Rollout The Carpet (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
Also in the Lilywhites consignment is Lot 91, an Iffraaj gelding from the aforementioned Valpolicella family and Lot 163, a Shocking filly whose third dam is the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Polar Success (NZ) (Success Express {USA}).
Lot 290 is a half-brother by Ocean Park (NZ) to the Listed Geelong Classic winner Extra Choice (Redoute’s Choice) with their dam the stakes winner Bonaichi (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}). She is a half-sister to the multiple black type winner Prima Nova (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
