Racing: Chance to strike southern gold

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A visit to family in the South Island might be a trip paved in gold for Grant and Tana Shaw and their hardy stayer Noble Warrior.

"We've got a son in Hokitika and a new grandson who is three months old so Grant's taken the horse down and will stay with them," Tana Shaw said.

She has remained at home while Grant will saddle the travel-wise Noble Warrior for today's Monteith's Brewing Company Greymouth Cup and then on to the Kumara Gold Nuggets on January 11.

Noble Warrior ran third and fifth in the respective events last year and, given his recent performance to finish second in the Group 3 Counties Cup, he is in the right form to improve on his previous South Island efforts.

"Grant's away for six weeks at a time in Papua New Guinea, he's a structural engineer, and that keeps the cash flow going," Shaw said.

"I work at Westbury Stud and have just finished foal watch so I'm back on days. It's a passion for us and this horse doesn't owe us anything."

The stakes winner of eight races and nearly $190,000, Noble Warrior also has form on wet and dry tracks and will be ridden at Omoto by Chris Johnson.

Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers has a sizeable team ready for the southern circuit and will be represented by a fresh Sonny Wellington and Our Alchemist in the Greymouth Cup.

Sonny Wellington hasn't raced since April, but he has trialled and has winning first-up form while his stablemate was a sound last-start second at New Plymouth.

- NZ Racing Desk.