18 Feb 2023Aquacade powered to another level at Pukekohe where she left a competitive line-up of stayers struggling in her wake.
Our ever-improving daughter of Dundeel earned what will hopefully be the first of many black type successes when she claimed the G2 Avondale Cup over 2400 metres with a minimum of effort.
Expertly managed by trainer Lance Noble, Aquacade is now as short as $2.20 for the upcoming G2 Auckland Cup and while that is a tight quote for such a time-honoured event, she will be there at the peak of her powers.
“That was something special after she won so well at her previous start in lesser company and to see that against a quality field was great,” Noble said.
Aquacade was away well from a wide barrier to sit one off the fence in midfield before regular rider Warren Kennedy asked her to pick up ground with 600 metres to run.
The four-year-old loomed into contention at the top of the straight and then quickly changed gear to put the issue beyond doubt and she strolled home by 2.8l.
“I was so pleased with her and Warren is right in the zone, he knows the mare very well and pre-empts what I tell him – he’s that good a jockey,” Noble said.
“It’s been a great team effort and we won’t have to do much with her now.”
Kennedy said he had no concerns during the race and Aquacade won as she liked.
“It all worked out like a dream and she was magnificent. All credit to Lance Noble, she looked fantastic and felt fantastic.
“She was relaxed and very professional and powered to a great win, she really turned it on.”
Aquacade is building a formidable record with six wins and four placings from 12 appearances and is a daughter of the imported Sea The Stars mare Forest Of Seas.
She produced a colt by Embellish in 2021 before missing the following season.