A Noble victory

Up-and-coming three-year-old Noble Park really impressed not only racegoers at Flemington on Saturday, but everyone at Ballymore with the strength of his determined victory in the $75,000 Schweppes Plate.

Still raw, the veteran of only three lead up runs did a fair bit wrong early – refusing to settle for in-form rider Lisa Cropp. But she displayed her usual patience, getting the gelding to settle and from 700m out she was confident.

“He gave me a neat ride from the 700m when he dropped the bit and started to get his breathing,” she said – “I thought from there he would win.”

Which is just what he did, the big and scopey bay digging deep when challenged over the final stages, really sticking his neck out.

“That was a really good win,” Michael Moroney enthused. “You don’t see them do that at Flemington very often – sit three and four wide and pulling. Even after he’d relaxed he had the job of carting the field into it – it was a strong, tough win.”

Depending on how he recovers from the run, Noble Park – still in his first racing preparation – may head north for a crack at the Queensland Derby. If not he will be spelled in preparation for the Melbourne spring carnival.

Already recouping his purchase price of $70,000 – Noble Park another success story for Paul Moroney – he is raced by Rohan & Kate Aujard, Rhett Tregunna, Paul Williams, Allison Cratchley, Rod Whinfield, Patrick Pinnell, Peter Pinnell, Rupert & Cheryl Legh Racing and Gurners Bloodstock Co.

Beautifully bred, he is a son of outstanding stallion Pins from the prolific Gr.1 family of Denise's Joy, Joie Denise, Sunday Joy, Thorn Park, Euphoria, Arlington Road, Tuesday Joy, Miss Danehill, Joie de Grise, Bentley Biscuit and More Joyous.