Winner: Noble Steed - Noble Indeed

Capping a great weekend for the stable, Te Akau's Cranbourne stable recorded a winning double at Avoca ... the second win courtesy of Noble Steed (5 g Zed – Test Of Honour, by Pentire) who won the A$32,000 bet 365 Position Payout Benchmark 56 1860 metres 29 March at Avoca (Victoria).

With only two runners on the programme, Te Akau trainer Mark Walker had won the previous race with beautifully bred three-year-old filly Future Frankie (Frankel), for owner Ozzie Kheir, while a day beforehand the stable celebrated its 104th and 105th Group One wins when outstanding two-year-old colt Seize The Day (I Am Invincible) recorded the 10th victory for Te Akau in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham, and high-quality three-year-old filly Belle Cheval (Savabeel) won the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney.

Having his first start for the stable, Noble Steed was bought by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM as a jumps prospect for A$30,000 at the Inglis Digital 2025 December (Early) Online Sale. 

He displayed plenty of tenacity when winning over 2000 metres in November at Wangaratta (Victoria), had finished fourth in a recent hurdle trial and sought to resume with an encouraging performance.

Ridden by accomplished flat and jumps' jockey Will Gordon, Noble Steed was caught three-wide in the early stages before slotting into sixth at the 1100m, and after improving strongly to third entering the home straight he sustained the run to win with a hint of dominance.

On Good3 footing, Noble Steed ran 1860 metres in 1:55.0 and paid $6.40 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good win today, first-up for the stable, after, basically, buying him as a jumping prospect for Warrnambool, which is one of the great carnivals in Australia,” Walker said.

“To win on the flat, first-up, was really satisfying and I think the owners should have a good deal of fun with him. 

“By Zed, out of a Pentire mare, he was always going to improve with age and time, and I think the jumping work in his training has really switched him on and given him the fitness levels and confidence to win fresh-up.”

Owned by Te Akau Steady On Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Noble Steed carries a bloodline cross to legendary New Zealand sire Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor), through the sire line of Zed and the dam sire line of Test Of Honour, while also having a cross to immortal sire Northern Dancer.

Nobel Steed was strapped by Tamlyn Lewis.