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.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.

27 October 2026

Ocean Park’s With Grace seals NZ Cup berth

South Auckland mare With Grace secured her berth in next month’s Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton when extending her winning sequence to four with victory in the Baker Tilly Staples Rodway 2100 at Te Rapa on Labour Day Monday.