It was an emotional but inevitable day when
Lance Noble's top-class race mare Viadana left his Easdon Lodge stables for the
final time.
The Matamata trainer bid farewell to his multiple Group One winner last week when
she departed for Australia and the next phase of her career.
Noble announced Viadana's retirement earlier this year and more recently
negotiations for her offshore sale have been completed.
"The Australian agent Mark Pilkington bought her on behalf of a private breeder
in Adelaide,"' he said.
"It was sad to see her go and there were a few tears from some of the owners,
but we were all very lucky to have had her and we hope she goes on to a top
career as a broodmare."
Viadana's 11 wins featured Group One victories in the Easter Handicap, the NRM
Sprint and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes with stake earnings in
excess of $710,000.
Noble had hoped the mare could defend her Breeders' Stakes crown at Te Aroha,
but the hoof problems that hindered her during last year's Melbourne spring
carnival ultimately resulted in her retirement.
"We were behind the eight ball and didn't want to force anything," he said.
"We've all had so much fun with her and she's been competitive at the highest
level. She was very special and horses like her don't come along very often."
Viadana was a $25,000 purchase at Karaka in 2009 and Noble's wife Leigh was
then instrumental in forming and managing the Easdon No.4 Syndicate that raced
the Towkay mare.
"She was one of the first we syndicated and we couldn't have got a better
result with a better group of owners," Noble said. "They have been fantastic
for Leigh and I to deal with." – NZ Racing Desk.