Brave Winner Set For Easter

25 February 2013

Brave Centaur was an appropriate winner of Saturday’s Waikato Stud Handicap at Matamata where he made a successful open class debut. By O’Reilly out of a Centaine mare, the five-year-old is now on a path toward a Group One feature.

“He surprised me a bit as he’s never been able to win a 1200 metre race before,” trainer Lance Noble said. “He is at the peak of his form and to win like that is really pleasing. The ideal target race for him is the Easter Handicap.”

Brave Centaur, who had been a lower grade winner at the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival, had been successful at Ellerslie at his previous two appearances before a freshen up for his home meeting. Ridden by Mark Hills, he was behind the leaders turning for home and rounded off strongly in the straight.

Pure Alpha delivers again as Ardrossan continues to rise

Ardrossan gelding Pure Alpha led throughout to win by 1.29 lengths at Eagle Farm for owner Ozzie Kheir, taking his earnings past $300,000. The result caps a stellar run for sire Ardrossan, whose yearlings fetched up to $450,000 this year on strong Hong Kong form.

28 August 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It is difficult to maintain momentum when sitting in judgment of racing’s governance. After all, I get no pleasure in searching for non-credible decisions, but one is perpetually bewildered by the rationale behind many of the positions that make little sense.