Cover image by Peter Rubery courtesy of Race Images Palmerston North
Written by Paul Vettise
Regardless of the outcome, the presence of Llanacord (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) in the G1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham is a tribute to her former trainer Glynn Brick, who died in a car crash near Cambridge last year.
Brick did all the early work with Llanacord, but tragically never got to see the two-time winner race and current trainer Stephen Nickalls said it would be an emotional occasion on Saturday, whatever the result.
The filly was initially purchased by his mother Dianne and stepfather Kevin Hopson for NZ$15,000 out of co-breeder Mapperley Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
“Glynn had trained Kevin’s horses for 10 years and the intention was always that he would train this filly,” Nickalls said. “When that (the accident) happened, my stepfather called and asked if I could take her and we were only too happy to.
“There will be plenty of emotion on the day and to have a horse running in a race like this is pretty amazing.”
Llanacord (NZ) as a yearling
Nickalls and his partner Laura Knight, whose father Gary played 66 times for the All Blacks, are best known as trainers of jumpers with success in the Grand National Hurdle with Ready Eddie (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}) and The Oysterman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}) won an Awapuni Steeplechase.
“It’s a real family affair and Laura and I do all the work with the filly at Laura’s parents’ place so it’s been great,” Nickalls said.
“It’s a real family affair and Laura and I do all the work with the filly at Laura’s parents’ place so it’s been great.” – Stephen Nickalls
“We both like the jumpers. We tend to look for horses that will either be stayers on the flat, or if they’re too slow for that, become jumpers.
“The fact that we have a horse in a Group 1 race is just amazing and we don’t under-estimate the task ahead of us.”
Llanacord placed in one of her first three starts before she finished sixth in the G3 Eulogy S. and returning after a break she posted an 8.3l maiden success at Wanganui at her seventh appearance.
She galloped into contention for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored Oaks with victory in the G2 Lowland S. at Hastings and Nickalls has no doubt the filly will have no trouble mastering the Classic trip of 2400 metres.
“She was in work with Glynn and after the accident she came here and from the day she turned up Kevin said they wanted to try and get her to the Oaks,” Nickalls said.
“In her first jump-out and trial she was running on at the end. Everything she has done for us has suggested she will get the trip.
“I know she only won by a nose at Hastings, but she had done a lot of work early on and she fought hard to hold on. I know Charm’s Star was taking ground off her, but she was entitled to with the run she had.”
Jumping experience in play
Nickalls has called on his experience with hurdlers and steeplechasers to condition Llanacord for the Oaks.
“We train jumpers and she certainly won’t be lacking fitness. With the jumpers we know they’re not going to be rock-hard fit for their first run because they will have a long prep and this filly has improved with every race she’s had,” he said.
“Everything we’ve done is to get her to the Oaks in as good a condition as we can. We’ll find out on Saturday whether we’ve done the job properly.
“The way she worked on Tuesday, and bucking and bouncing around the paddock on Wednesday, told us we have no worries about the way she is feeling.
“There are only two Group 1 races in New Zealand for the fillies and we feel privileged to have a runner.”
Llanacord is out of L’Accord (NZ) (Golan {Ire}), who won up to 2000 metres and is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Ad Alta (NZ) (Kenfair {NZ}) and to the dam of G2 Empire Rose S. winner Zanna (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).
