Familiar Duo Renew NZB Kiwi Partnership

[Wandering Eyes]

Waikato Thoroughbred Racing (WTR) have renewed their partnership with Wexford Stables for this year’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), with the Club selecting L’Aigle Noir (NZ) (Ribchester) as their representative.

The familiar combination contested last year’s inaugural running of The NZB Kiwi with Sethito (NZ) (Super Seth), who finished sixth, and they are looking to improve on that result when the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race is run on Champions Day at Ellerslie Racecourse on March 7.

A deal was brokered shortly after L’Aigle Noir’s luckless fourth placing in last Saturday’s $150,000 Group Three Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie, and WTR Chief Executive Andrew Castles was pleased to secure the gelding just a fortnight out from the rich feature.

“We are thrilled to link with Wexford Stables again, and Mark Chitty and his ownership team,” Castles said. 

“I connected with Lance very quickly after the running of the Uncle Remus and we are delighted that they chose us as their partner for The NZB Kiwi.”

Bred by Anne Marie de Spa and Charles Hall, L’Aigle Noir is by Haunui Farm’s Group One-producing shuttle stallion Ribchester and out of stakes performer Silhouette Noire (Dane Shadow). He is raced by the couple in partnership with Haunui Farm principal Mark Chitty.

After one start as a juvenile, the gelding has built a solid record at three, winning first-up over 1230m at Arawa Park in November before placing in the $120,000 Group Three Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe in December. He later finished seventh in the $250,000 Group Three Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on TAB Karaka Millions night before producing an eye-catching effort in the Uncle Remus Stakes last weekend, which cemented WTR’s decision to select the gelding. 

“We are thrilled to pick him up late in the piece,” Castles said. “I thought his run on Saturday, outside of the winner, was as good as any in the race and he probably should have run second with a clear run.

“I went and saw him at Wexford Stables and he is an absolutely gorgeous example of the Thoroughbred, he is a cracking type. If he runs up to that type then he is more than a genuine top-five chance.”

WTR will host a members’ function at Te Rapa Racecourse next Wednesday prior to the running of the big dance three days later.

“We have got a members’ function next Wednesday night, very similar to the one we held last year,” Castles said. “We’ll have the connections in attendance, and our members and supporters are invited to join us as we preview The NZB Kiwi.”

Lance O’Sullivan, who trains L’Aigle Noir in partnership with Andrew Scott, was pleased to renew the association with WTR, and he is hoping they are blessed with better fortune in this year’s edition.

“He ran really well last Saturday,” O’Sullivan said. “He got held up at a pretty crucial part of the race and he would have finished a lot closer. He is a nice horse and a very good type.

“They (WTR) had no luck in the race last year (with Sethito), so hopefully this year we get a bit of good luck. We are delighted to be partnering with them once again.”

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