Noble Boy cements Championship favouritism

Queanbeyan-trained Noble Boy has kept an unbeaten record with a Highway Handicap success.

Noble Boy has cemented his position at the top of markets for the Country Championship final, recording his fourth win from as many starts with his victory in the Highway Handicap at Warwick Farm.

Trained by Todd Blowes at Queanbeyan, Noble Boy is at $4 for the Country Championship final on April 6 but he will need to run first or second to get in.

Judging by his win on Saturday, that should not be a problem with Hugh Bowman bringing the $2.10 favourite down the middle of the track to beat Acquittal ($9) by two lengths.

After wins at Albury and Goulburn, Noble Boy won a 1200m-Highway race at Rosehill on December 1.

“He was the class horse of the field and is certainly a very exciting horse at this level and I would say there’s more in store for him at a higher level,” Bowman said.

“He put them away very easily and I feel he had more in the tank.”

Blowes said Noble Boy would run next in the local Country Championship qualifying race at Goulburn on March 2.

“He ticks another box today,” Blowes said.

“I was a bit nervous in the run because he’s not wound right up yet and he was out wide without cover but I guess that’s my first experience of why you put someone like Hugh on.”

Blowes won’t be able to get Bowman for the Goulburn race because it clashes with Chipping Norton Stakes day and has booked Jess Taylor for Noble Boy.