Cover image courtesy of Racing Queensland
The Les Kelly-trained Noah ‘N’ A Deel (Maurice {Jpn}) backed up a sensational effort in the G1 Queensland Oaks, where she finished third behind Amokura (Kermadec {NZ}) to score the Listed Tattersall's Gold Crown against the older mares on Saturday at Eagle Farm.
The valuable Listed contest was run over 2137 metres which illustrated the filly’s staying capabilities for the future, and more importantly, Noah ‘N’ A Deel is taking her 74-year-old co-owner Reg Flannery on a ride of a lifetime.
Connections of Noah 'N' A Deel after winning the Listed Tattersall's Gold Crown at Eagle Farm | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“I and all the owners are very good mates. Racing and looking forward to my horses running is my life now. I’m 74, and I’ve done my time working, and now it’s time for me to enjoy whatever time I have left to love the horses,” Flannery told TDN AusNZ.
“I have had horses with Les Kelly for several years now. Les bought a couple of yearlings from the Magic Millions sales a few years ago. Among those he bought included two progeny of Maurice, and Noah ‘N’ A Deel was one of those.”
“Racing and looking forward to my horses running is my life now. I’m 74, and I’ve done my time working, and now it’s time for me to enjoy whatever time I have left to love the horses.” - Reg Flannery
Noah ‘N’ A Deel is a bay filly by Maurice (Jpn), who carried the intimidating moniker of the “Beast from the East” during his racing days. Maurice was one of the best gallopers to hail from Japan this decade.
Retired to Shadai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido in Japan, Maurice also shuttles to Arrowfield Stud in New South Wales, Australia. Maurice is proving a dual-hemisphere success story, and Noah ‘N’ A Deel’s Listed success on Saturday made her the stallion’s 16th individual stakes winner.
A genuine Arrowfield Stud product, Noah ‘N’ A Deel is the first foal from the unraced Dundeel (NZ) mare Double Deel. Dundeel, a barn mate to Maurice, is enjoying a sensational season with his runners, and the filly’s success was also a landmark occasion for him, as she became his first stakes winner as a broodmare sire.
Maurice (Jpn) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Noah ‘N’ A Deel is clearly showing a penchant for staying distances, and this shouldn’t come as much as a shock when you review the record of her second dam Aliyana Tilde, despite being a daughter of the multiple Arrowfield Stud Champion Sire Snitzel, she was placed in the G1 Sydney Cup over 3200 metres and the G1 Australian Oaks.
Noah ‘N’ A Deel was offered by Arrowfield Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and purchased by Waverley Park Lodge for $100,000.
“Les (Kelly) picks all our horses. I have eight with him, including three babies, a Zousain, a Yes Yes Yes and a Nicconi. They’ll hopefully be racing in the new season. I have five older horses in work, including Noah ‘N’ A Deel and her younger full sister Chayse ‘N Adam,” Flannery explained.
Noah 'N' A Deel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It has only been the last few years I have been able to spend a little bit more money buying horses. I was buying cheap ones and trying to put it all together in the early days, but it doesn’t work unless you’re fortunate and get the one in 1000 that is a cheap buy.”
Filly shows ability
Kelly would debut the daughter of Maurice on the Sunshine Coast in a juvenile fillies' maiden over 1200 metres; she would finish fourth. It wouldn’t take long for Noah ‘N’ A Deel to break her maiden, sent to the Sunshine Coast Poly Track, she saluted in a 1400-metre event for 2-year-olds.
Sent to town at Doomben, Noah ‘N’ A Deel, far from disgraced herself, stepped gradually up in distance until she returned to the winner’s circle at the Gold Coast in Class 1 company over 1700 metres.
With Noah ‘N’ A Deel appearing to be a filly that could be competitive over an Oaks distance, thought was given to taking her to Melbourne to contest the G1 VRC Oaks over 2500 metres.
“We were going to take her to the Oaks at Flemington last year, but she only had $30,000 or $40,000 in prizemoney then. I thought it would have been a wasted trip, and she was unlikely to get in, but she would have gotten a start. It would have been interesting. I think she would have gone close.
“We were going to take her (Noah 'N' A Deel) to the Oaks at Flemington last year, but she only had $30,000 or $40,000 in prizemoney then. It would have been interesting. I think she would have gone close.” - Reg Flannery
“Les had a big opinion of this filly early days. That is why we ended up with her younger sister.”
Kulani Park offered Noah ‘N’ A Deel’s younger sister on behalf of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where Les Kelly Racing ultimately signed the cheque for $75,000.
“Les had a big opinion of this filly early days. We also have her younger full sister, but she went through the Inglis sale in Melbourne, and Les rang me up to say that he’s asked Paul Messera to give him a buzz if that filly passed in, as we might be interested in her, given what Noah ‘N’ A Deel is showing us,” Flannery told TDN AusNZ.
Chayse 'N' Adam as a a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We bought the sister for $75,000; she is named Chayse ‘N’ Adam.”
Chayse 'N' Adam (Maurice {Jpn}) has already proved she may be one to keep an eye on in the future after a runner-up performance in a Gold Coast barrier trial in March.
Queensland Oaks path set
With the Melbourne trip abandoned, Noah ‘N’ A Deel pushed on through the Brisbane spring and summer.
Heading to Eagle Farm, the filly ran into a handy one by the name of Yellow Brick (The Mission) before she scored again at the Sunshine Coast over 1800 metres; by this point, Sean Cormack was becoming a mainstay on the back of Noah ‘N’ A Deel.
Kelly stepped the filly up over 2000 metres at Doomben in a race called Eagle Way, named after the G1 Queensland Derby hero, a son of More Than Ready (USA).
Noah ‘N’ A Deel had the misfortune of running into the Chris Waller-trained Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and was beaten 2.7l.
She would again encounter the future Group 1 star in the G3 Grand Prix at Eagle Farm over 2100 metres, where she closed the gap to be beaten 1.67l; by no means was the filly disgraced. The performances resonated that she was a filly of considerable ability, and the path was set for the G1 Queensland Oaks.
Things didn’t go as planned for Noah ‘N’ A Deel, with two unplaced runs in the Listed Daybreak Lover and the G2 Queensland Guineas over 1400 and 1600 metres, respectively.
The filly again was unplaced in the G2 The Roses behind Fireburn (Rebel Dane), her final run before the Oaks.
The 2023 G1 Queensland Oaks field where Noah 'N' A Deel ran a gallant third | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Despite being sent out undervalued by bettors, Noah ‘N’ A Deel relished the 2200 metres to run a bold third behind the impressive Amokura.
“Noah ‘N’ A Deel was underdone going into the Queensland Oaks. She pulled up with a minor issue in the campaign, which put her back, and we had to change plans for the Oaks. If anything, she peaked on Saturday in the Tattersall's Crown,” Flannery said.
“It would have been interesting to see how she went if she had the right preparation before running in the Oaks. However, she showed on Saturday what a gusty little filly she is.”
“It would have been interesting to see how she (Noah 'N' A Deel) went if she had the right preparation before running in the Oaks. However, she showed on Saturday what a gusty little filly she is.” - Reg Flannery
Eyes on the future
With eyes firmly on the future, Flannery is thrilled to be along for the ride and credits the handling of Noah ‘N’ A Deel to Kelly and his stable.
“She has gone for a spell. Les will likely bring her back in six weeks, and hopefully, we go south with her. It has been thrown around that she may stay in Queensland for the distance race on Magic Millions Day as she’s qualified for that race series. Ultimately we will be guided by Les.
“I leave it all to Les. He probably has about 16 horses in work, and it’s a family affair—Les' wife, son and daughter-in-law and a couple of casuals all help at the stables.
“I can be a little bit impatient, but Les has always said to have patience, and Noah ‘N’ A Deel will come good, and he was spot on,” Flannery enthused.
“The other owners and I would love to go to Melbourne, and if you asked what race would be the ultimate dream, it would have to be the Melbourne Cup, but realistically it is up to Les, and whatever he says, I’ll agree with, because he’s a lot smarter than me when it comes to racehorses.”
“... if you asked what race would be the ultimate dream, it would have to be the Melbourne Cup, but realistically it is up to Les, and whatever he says, I’ll agree with, because he’s a lot smarter than me when it comes to racehorses.” - Reg Flannery
Flannery acknowledged briefly the current issues facing Kelly, who was found guilty and reportedly disqualified for 18 months by Racing NSW stewards after two horses in his care returned human erythropoietin (EPO) present in blood samples dating back to July 13, 2022, at Grafton Racecourse.
However, Flannery respects Kelly and applauds his patience and care given to his filly.
“Les, as far as I’m concerned, is the most underrated trainer. I have had horses with some big stables from Sydney to Melbourne, but Les has a boutique operation and does a great job. Noah ‘N’ A Deel has white hooves which need managing, and he has nurtured and looked after her the whole way through. Les wraps her up and treats her like a little kid, and it has made a difference.
“I think he’s a horseman and a great trainer. Sure, Les has had a few issues lately, but hopefully, he beats them in an appeal. Les lives and breathes horses and has always been great to me,” Flannery said.
“I think he’s (Les Kelly) a horseman and a great trainer. Sure, Les has had a few issues lately, but hopefully, he beats them in an appeal. Les lives and breathes horses and has always been great to me.” - Reg Flannery
“He is a great and sincere guy, personally. He’s very one-on-one with Noah ‘N’ A Deel. Les will be at the stables from 3am; he’ll have a quick afternoon break then be back at the stables till 6pm making sure everything is okay.”
Now living on the Gold Coast, Flannery loves getting up close and personal with his horses and hopes Noah ‘N’ A Deel will be joined by her little sister Chayse ‘N’ Adam in Melbourne in the spring.
“I live on the Gold Coast now. It is handy because Les has his stables on the Gold Coast, I can visit the stables, and I spend two or three mornings or afternoons there.”
“I just love horses. We have so much to look forward to, and we dream of having both the fillies heading to Melbourne. I have to thank Sean (Cormack), who is very underestimated. I’m pretty loyal, and Sean has done the right thing, as has Les. I wouldn’t care where Les took Noah ‘N’ A Deel; Sean would be riding her, he knows her now, and I can trust him.
Noah 'N' A Deel winning the Listed Tattersall's Gold Crown at Eagle Farm | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“Part of my problem is at the age of 74; I am wishing my life away as I cannot wait until the next race. I should be doing the opposite and savouring every moment, as I don’t know how much time I have left.
“But it’s such an exciting time, and I’m really enjoying watching Noah ‘N’ A Deel’s career progress, and I am looking forward to Chayse ‘N’ Adam’s career unfolding.”
