Written by Paul Vettise
Clare Cunningham isn’t getting too far ahead of herself with the talented Noble Boy (Bon Hoffa) as she readies the 5-year-old for his first appearance from her stable.
The Warwick Farm trainer took charge of the gelding earlier this year and the chestnut has had a couple of trials, winning the latest on his new home track on Monday morning.
Noble Boy was successful in an open heat over 794 metres in the hands of partner Jason Collett and, all going well, will resume in the coming weeks.
Watch: Noble Boy trial
“He trialled nicely, it wasn’t a very fast run trial but the horse is prepping up nicely and he’s got a bit more improvement to come,” she said. “He’s an older horse with a few issues so we take each day as it comes.
“He’s had two trials now and depending how he comes through the latest one he shouldn’t be too far away.
“We’ll try and find the right race and not get too impatient. There’s plenty of racing coming up and we’ll find him something.”
“We’ll try and find the right race and not get too impatient. There’s plenty of racing coming up and we’ll find him something.” – Clare Cunningham
Formerly with Todd Blowes, Noble Boy won seven of his first eight starts including last year’s Country Championships Final at Randwick.
He subsequently finished third in the G3 Chatham S. at Flemington in early November and hasn’t raced since he tailed the field home in the G2 Villiers S. at Randwick the following month.
Noble Boy
Cunningham is also looking forward to the return to the stable of the lightly-tried Big Parade (Deep Field), who was a 2-year-old winner and runner-up in the Listed Winning Edge Presentations S. during the Queensland winter carnival.
The colt returned from a break to win at Gosford in December and then finished second at Rosehill.
“Big Parade is very promising and the owner unfortunately thought the industry was going to be closed down and he sent him out to the paddock,” Cunningham said.
“We’re hoping he’ll start his next preparation very soon and get him ready for something to lift confidence before lining up for the spring.”
Big Parade as a yearling
Haul for Baker
Fellow trainer Bjorn Baker had a number of runners in action at the trials and won the first three open heats over 1200 metres with Shock Alert (NZ) (Shocking), Starspangled Rodeo (Teofilo {Ire}) and Sophiella (Not A Single Doubt).
He also produced Miss Invincible (I Am Invincible) to claim an open 794 metre heat and 2-year-olds Last Shout Budgie (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) and Ocean Emperor (Written Tycoon) to win, also over 794 metres.
Ocean Emperor as a yearling
Ocean Emperor was bought out of Tyreel Stud’s draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Darby Racing and De Burgh Equine for $220,000. The colt showed an early return when he led all the way to win on debut on the Kensington track earlier this month.
He is out of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Bubbles ‘N’ Boats and she is a half-sister to the dam of the G1 VRC Derby winner Extra Brut (Domesday), also third in the G1 Mackinnon S. It’s also the family of the dual European Group 1 winner Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Last Shout Budgie has yet to race and is out of The Last Shout (Danzero), a half-sister the dual Group 3 winner Fouardee (Forest Glow {USA}) and their dam is a half-sister to the G1 South Australian Oaks winner Gamine (Keen {GB}).
Watch: Ocean Emperor trial
