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.

Ardy party rolls on with new Hong Kong winner

James McDonald and Gold Patch opened proceedings at Sha Tin with a determined 1000-metre victory. The Ardrossan gelding held off strong pressure to score for trainer Francis Lui, continuing the stallion’s impressive strike rate in Hong Kong.

24 January 2026

Timely win by Tuxedo as half-brother is offered as Lot 298 at Karaka

The mounting yard at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions evening was a sea of black and white ahead of Race 3, the $1 million Gr.3 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic, with a large group of owners hoping …