Racing: Hard fight but Brave Mariner wins well

The $60,000 Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie on March 5 will be the next race outing for exciting Matamata-trained Brave Mariner.

The well-built son of Danasinga raced on the pace throughout the $15,000 Rich Hill Thoroughbreds at Matamata yesterday and fought off all challengers in the home stretch to win by three-quarters of a length over Savute.

A further long neck away in third position was Raadisi.

Trainer Lance Noble has a high opinion of the 3-year-old.

"He raced on the pace today and he relaxed beautifully outside the leader and really dug deep when he needed to win this race," said Noble.

"He has always shown a lot of potential from the very first day he walked into my stable.

"With just a little bit of luck he would now be unbeaten in three starts.

"But he was desperately unlucky in his debut at Ellerslie when he got blocked for room.

But he was running on impressively when he finished fifth.

"He won his next start at Ellerslie and I'll be taking him back to that track next month for the Great Northern Guineas.

"He has had three race starts to date and has raced over 1200 metres in his first and second outings at the races. Today he handled the jump up in distance to 1400 metres.

"I have no doubt that he will handle the jump up in distance to 1600 metres."

Brave Mariner got under the guard of the betting public who allowed the gelding to start at the odds of 26-1.

He won with the authority of an athlete that will excel with further opportunities this season.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY