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Live sport on SN this weekendCup hope bred to go the ultimate trip
Paul Vettise • November 14th, 2025 10:58 am
Notabadspillane will contest the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton on Saturday | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Well-related stayer Notabadspillane is on a mission to take care of unfinished family business at Riccarton on Saturday.
The Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) has long been top of Shaun Phelan’s wish list and the Cambridge trainer has enjoyed a trouble-free preparation with the five-year-old son of Time Test.
The Cambridge horseman’s charge has been in strong form ahead of his long-term target and his pedigree instills further confidence.
He is a half-brother to New Zealand’s 2022-23 Champion Stayer and dual Oaks winner Pennyweka, with their dam the unraced Threepence.
The Pentire mare is also a half-sister to the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Titch, who finished runner-up in the 2010 New Zealand Cup with Notabadspillane in the right form to go one better.
“There’s a lot of stayers in his family and the two miles shouldn’t be any problem for him,” Phelan said.
Notabadspillane claimed consecutive middle distance victories at Te Rapa before finishing fourth in a stop-start Waikato Cup Prelude (2400m) on the Hamilton course.
“He won two in a row and then last start it was an unsuitably run race, they just walked in front and then sprinted,” Phelan said.
“Him and (race rival) Canheroc didn’t pull up until the 800, so I was more than happy with the run.”
The Chris Wood-trained Canheroc subsequently ran fifth behind El Vencedor in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m), in which Diamond Jack was second after finishing behind Notabadspillane at Te Rapa.
Phelan’s partner Elen Nicholas will again be aboard Notabadspillane after partnering the gelding in his last five appearances.
“She gets along well with him and rides him in all his work, he can be a tricky horse to ride some days,” Phelan said.
“From the draw (11), it should be easy enough to get handy without doing too much and let him run the trip out strongly.”
Notabadspillane has also proved himself to be a versatile performer with success on good and heavy surfaces.
“He’s a lightly framed horse and he won’t mind any rain, either way it won’t bother him,” Phelan said. “We’re looking forward to getting him on to the big, roomy track.”
