Noonan Notches Second Metro Win

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 06:32

Young apprentice Jake Noonan continued his healthy association with four-year-old Rowland after he won the $30,000 Hayai Handicap (2400m) at Betfair Park Sandown Hillside on Wednesday.

Noonan celebrated only his second winner in the metropolitan area upon returning to scale today since making his metropolitan riding debut in the latter half of 2009.

The recipient of the 2009 Victorian School-based Apprentice of the Year Award, rode his only other winner aboard Dabba Dancer at Moonee Valley in March.

“He (Rowland) has given me my last three winners so he’s been a good honest horse for both Robbie and I,” Noonan said.

Trained by Robbie Laing at Cranbourne, Rowland enjoyed a lovely run in transit to sit in fourth position in the five-horse field where a genuine tempo was established by Titch.

As Titch weakened to surrender the lead at the 300 metre mark, Noonan asked Rowland to quicken and the gelding duly accelerated to put the outcome of the race beyond doubt.

Rowland ($2-$2.40 fav) defeated Niptious ($6.50-$7) by a length and a quarter with Titch ($2.50) clinging onto third a further seven lengths away.

“With the three kilos off (from Noonan’s claim) and only a length (winning) margin, he might not have won it if he carried the full weight,” Laing said.

“Once again it was a terrific ride and they went along at a good clip.”

“As you could see from the grandstand it wasn’t the case of a small field canter and a sprint home, there was good speed on and that’s probably why the leader (Titch) succumbed at the finish,” he added.

Laing noted he has always had an opinion of Rowland however a wind problem that was only recently resolved by Dr John Van Veenendaal, head vet surgeon at Flemington Equine Clinic, has allowed him to showcase his talents.

“He was a five out of five full blown roarer and he’s come back in and he can breathe, he doesn’t have any discharge from his nose when he eating or drinking – it was a good operation.”

Noonan believes Rowland will be hard to beat in staying races in similar grade over the winter months.

“He is the sort of horse that can get away with a bit of a sit and sprint coming from behind and he proved that today.”

“He is definitely a swimmer, I can’t say he’s doing a bad job on these wet tracks so I’d be happy to leave him here through the winter,” he added.

Rowland is now likely to have his next run in the fourth heat of the Banjo Paterson Series over the same track and distance on next Saturday.

Should Rowland finish in the placings in that event, he would secure a berth in the $151,000 Banjo Paterson Series Final (2500m) at Flemington on July 10.

By Lonhro, Rowland is out of the dam Paris In The Fall who produced stakes winning mare Exceedingly French.

After winning his third consecutive race this afternoon, Rowland boasts a record of four wins and six placings with over $83,000 in prizemoney.

Pictures: Colin Bull