Aquacade retired

[Wandering Eyes]

Group One performer Aquacade has been retired. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Multiple Group-winning mare Aquacade will begin the next phase of her career later this year.

Time has been called on the racing days of Dundeel’s daughter with the five-year-old to become a valuable addition to Cambridge Stud’s broodmare band.

Trained at Karaka by Lance Noble for breeder-owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Aquacade performed up to the highest level with seven victories and six placings and only twice missed a top five finish from 19 appearances.

“She has been fantastic and that’s what we’re here for, to try and develop fillies and mares into broodmares and get black type,” Noble said.

“To be able to do that with her has provided a great sense of achievement. She was so consistent and has been retired happy and sound.

“She could possibly have raced again next season, but she doesn’t have anything left to prove and will make a lovely broodmare.”

Aquacade’s career highlights included successes in the Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and the Group 3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m), and gained an elite level credit when third in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m).

“After last season and rightfully so, she went up in the ratings from the bottom of the handicap up to 57, 58 and 59kg against the younger ones coming through that have the weight advantages, especially over ground,” Noble said.

“We made a conscious decision at the beginning of this season to see if we could crack a Group One and she got that Group One placing in the Zabeel.

“She was really a 2200-2400m horse and maybe lacked that turn of foot to be a 2000m weight-for-age horse, but she acquitted herself really well in those races against some very good horses.”

Aquacade is a daughter of the unraced Sea The Stars mare Forest Of Seas and a pedigree that includes international stakes-winning stayers Sea Of Heartbreak, Self Defense, Degas Art and Puncher Clynch.

“She took a bit of time to develop and ran third in the Royal Stakes (Group 2, 2000m) as a three-year-old and as a four and five-year-old really came to the party,” Noble said.

“I am very happy and satisfied that she has been retired safe and well, she hasn’t been over-raced and with her size, temperament and pedigree, she is going to make a lovely broodmare.

“Early on, like most young horses, she had her quirks but the more we did with her the more professional she became and was an easy horse to train.”

Meanwhile, promising mare and last-start Rangitoto Classic (1500m) winner Jaarffi will step up in grade at Tauranga on Saturday.

“All being well, she’ll run in the Japan Trophy (Group 2, 1600m),” Noble said.

“We did look at the Group One (New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, 1600m), but felt it was a little bit too soon at weight-for-age against seasoned and quality mares.

“The Japan Trophy sits better at set weights and penalties, and she gets in on the minimum. She will be better next season, but we will test the waters and hopefully get a bit of black type.”

Noble has enjoyed a rewarding 2023/24 with 19 winners, including four at Group or Listed level, with a number of the team now out for well-deserved breaks.

“It’s been a fantastic season and will quieten down on the racing front,” Noble said. “We’ll look to the yearlings now who are being broken in and will then come into through the system.”

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