11 Mar 2023Our trainer Lance Noble hit a memorable mark when Habana claimed open sprint honours at Pukekohe.
It was the 500th training success of his decorated career and his conditioning skills were again evident when our Zoustar four-year-old raced to victory.
Habana had been unplaced at his previous appearance, but had genuine excuses.
“That was a forgive run, he had a big weight (61kg) and didn’t cop Te Rapa,” Noble said.
“He loves Pukekohe, he’s unbeaten here, and he had been working well. I think he’s an Easter Handicap horse so we’ll try and get him there.”
Habana was quickly into stride to settle near the pace and was too good for his rivals after taking control 250 metres off the post.
“He just loves this track and won pretty easily and I think he can go further,” rider Warren Kennedy said.
Now the winner of five of his 10 starts, Habana was a private purchase out of the trials and is a son of the Mossman mare Jeter, who won on four occasions and finished fourth in the G1 Schweppes Oaks.