ANNIKE BYE HANSEN
Racehorse Trainer
annikebyehansen.com
359,849 kroner earned on Super Sunday
Noosa Prince back to winning form
I Rest My Case, Youonlyliveonce
both very strong in stakes events
2 Oct 22: I Rest My Case came up short in the Breeders' Prize Classic, but only just, and what a race she ran - as she finished well after some traffic problems to take second, beaten just a length by Hear The Drums. Picking up a nice pay cheque, she contributed greatly to the team's daily earnings of 359,849 kroner. Annike thus consolidated her place as number two in the trainers' standings and, with a small stable like this, it has been a truly remarkable 2022.
Noosa Prince, beautifully ridden by Willa, handled the soft ground really well and won the Sudost Handicap over 1600 metres, beating Mowaraaman comfortably by 2 1/.2 lengths, while Pirlo came home in third place.
Youonlyliveonce, who is beginning to look like one of the most versatile performers around, ran a strong race to claim third place in the Arnfinn Lunds Minneløp (LR) and Take A Chill Pill did the same in the Black Moon Breeding Auksjonsløp.
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Upcoming racedays: Oct 6, 12 & 20. Nov 6, 10 & 17
Stabell talk 2022
Noosa Prince - high end handicapper
Having visited the winners' circle after two of his ten starts in 2021, six-year-old Noosa Prince will soon be embarking on his second season in Norway, and this is a horse we can hope to see making his presence felt in the better handicap races at Øvrevoll in 2022. He won twice within seven days last September, defeating Prince Of Tides by three parts of a length in the Vista Hermosa Handicap over 1370 metres, and following up by beating Kildare by 2 lengths in the 1600-metres Wattan Handicap. Both races were staged on turf. Winners of 12 races in 2021 were behind him when he beat Prince Of Tides, and the competition was strong also when he proved much too good for Kildare, a rival with 8 career wins on his CV. Noosa Prince had winners on 8 races in 2021 in his wake on that occasion. He is clearly a good runner, and he held his position as a genuine 80 plus rated performer through the season. Noosa Prince went into '21 on handicap mark 84 and he closed it out on 86. His current mark is 85, after the handicapper dropped him one kilogram after a fourth place finish over 1750 metres on the dirt track in October, his final outing last year. Noosa Prince was beaten Like A King, Buckybabe and and stable companion We Got The Boss in that event. His best form has come on turf though it's worth remembering that Noosa Prince won three times on the dirt track at Bo Park in his younger days - scoring over 1400 metres and 1600 metres as a juvenile and over 1600 metres once more at three.
Noosa Prince is a son of Kodiac, a highly successful stallion. Kodiac is a son of Danehill out of Rafha (Kris). Rafha was a top class middle distance performer for legendary trainer Henry Cecil. She won the Prix de Diane Hermes (G1) – French Oaks – at Chantilly back in 1987. Ridden by Willie Carson, she beat Moon Cactus by half a length in the French classic. That filly was also trained by Cecil, while Andre Fabre had to settle for third place with his contender, Colour Chart. It was a finish of future broomares all right. Moon Cactus, who had won the Prestige Stakes (G3) as a two-year-old, became the dam of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes (G1) winner Doyen and Epsom Oaks (G1) heroine Moonshell. Colour Chart passed her talents on to her daughter Tempera, who captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), and to her son Equerry, winner of three G3 events in France and third to the mighty Hawk Wing in the Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown Park in England.
As a son of Danehill and Rafha, the four time winning sprinter Kodiac was always going to find a place at stud – though nobody expected him to develop into an elite sire. Which is exactly what he did. His racing record was nowhere near as good as his pedigree – Kodiac failed to win a Group race (he was third in a G3 and managed fourth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, G1). His career at stud has been miles better. Kodiac has sired more than 140 stakes performers and he holds the record for most juvenile winners in a single season. He has been sire of two-year-olds both in Europe in 2018 and Ireland / Great Britain. In addition, Kodiac sired more winners than any other stallion in Europe in 2018. Among his best known offspring are Campanelle, Kodi Bear, Hello Youmzain, Tiggy Wiggy and Best Solution. Kodiac is a half-brother to Invincible Spirit, another sprinter who became a top stallion.
Noosa Prince's pedigree lends itself mainly to turf racing but there is some dirt influence too. His dam, Something Magic, is a daughter of Lexington Stakes (G2) winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Proud Citizen. Something Magic raced ten times without success in England. Her best runs came over 6 and 7 furlongs on turf. She is a daughter of Comeback Queen, who was a Listed placed mile winner and became a useful broodmare. Comeback Queen is a daughter of Miss Universe and thus a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Donativum. GS 220404
Noosa Prince, again partnered by Willa Synøve Schou, gaining his second win in seven days. Photo: hesteguiden.com
Two runners – two winners!
I Rest My Case on the up, Noosa Prince in smashing form
16 Sep 21: Annike had two runners on this evening card and, as they both won, we can safely say that this was a good day in the office – as well as a nice boost to the team ahead of bigger tasks at Bro Park on Sunday.
I Rest My Case did so much wrong for such a long way of Norsk Mesterskap for 2-åringer, but when the penny finally dropped about a furlong from the winning post, well, then she leveled off nicely and ran on really well to win the valuable stakes race staged over 1170 metres. She was a bit tardy from the stalls, raced with the choke out while seeing far too much daylight while pressing the pace going around the bend, fumbled a bit more in the early parts of the home straight, and still she proved to be the best of these juveniles. It makes lot of sense to assume that she was much the best in this field and that those she beat today will find it hard to match strides with her in upcoming races. That said, there were some debutantes on show, and it was obviously a good thing that I Rest May Case, calmly ridden by Kaia Ingolfsland, was given an introduction prior to this contest. She was chased home by Queen Of Antarktis, who was beaten half a length, and third place went to Gold Rush.
Noosa Prince brought us more joy half an hour later, as he added to his success last week by winning the Wattan Handicap over 1600 metres from Kildare and Seven Nation Army. Noosa Prince was ridden Willa Synøve Schou, who sent him straight to the lead. This horse really is at the top of his game right now. He was full of zest, yet nicely composed, in front, and when it looked like the cashing pack might cut into his advantage, he just quickened up again to disappoint them all in a matter of strides. Noosa won the contest very comfortably, passing the winning post 2 lengths in front of the runner-up.
Tactical speed, a turn of foot, a powerful recipe
Noosa Prince hits winning form
09 Sep 21: Noosa Prince returned to winning form as he captured the Vista Hermosa Handicap over 1370 metres on St. Leger day, and he won the race by combining good tactical speed with a decisive turn of foot. Breaking well under rider Willa Synøve Schou, he put pressure on the early leader - Backcountry - from the outset, moved up to a joint lead going around the bend, took command early in the straight, and quickened smartly with about 300 metres to run. In horse racing it is not a question of how fast you go - it is always a question of how you are going fast, and Noosa Prince was doing it really easily on this occasion. Changing gears halfway through the penultimate furlong proved to be the killer. He opened up on his pursuers at that point and, although City Code and Prince Of Tides both ran on well, neither ever posed a serious threat to Noosa Prince, who prevailed by three parts of a length. His nearest rivals ran a dead-heat for second place. This was Noosa Prince's seventh career win from 30 starts and he turned the tables on both City Code and Backcountry, who had beaten him him similar contests last month. His total earnings now stand at an impressive 478,352 kroner.
We Got The Boss turned up yet again for a fine effort, taking third in the Vortex Elitehandicap over 1600 metres, a race won by the classy Valence, who ran fifth in Marit Sveaas Minneløp (G3) on his previous outing. GS
Stabell talk 2021
Noosa Prince – solid and versatile
A son of high profile stallion Kodiac from the family of a Breeders' Cup winner, Noosa Prince has already won six races in his career; four at Bro Park, one at Jägersro and one at Øvrevoll – where he was successful over 1600 metres in 2019. A new member on the team, he will be getting his first runs for Annike this season.
He broke his maiden racing over 1400 metres / dirt at Bro Park as a juvenile back in 2018, when he beat Approach by a neck in what developed into a two horse tussle at the finish. Lana Montana was 3 lengths further back in third place and the seven-runner field was strung out to the tune of almost fifteen lengths. This was Noosa Prince's second outing and he went off favourite. Two third placed efforts and an unplaced run in the valuable Vinterfavoriternas Pris (all on turf), were to follow before he found his way back to the winners' circle once more. It happened when he switched back to the dirt track, and it happened in some style. Noosa Prince was odds-on to beat three rivals over 1600 metres towards the end of the season, so the win was no big surprise, but he could hardly have been more impressive. Ridden by Shane Karlsson, he cruised home by 7 lengths from Romeo Bloom, with We Got the Boss back in third place. It was a nice way to wrap up a juvenile campaign that yielded two wins and two placings from six races.
Noosa Prince continued to do well at three. He beat the well known London Rock (who has 7 wins to date) easily by 3 ½ lengths in a three-year-old contest over 1600 metres / dirt at Jägersro in June 2019, and he was successful over the same distance at Bro Park in September, when he passed the winning post 3 lengths in front of another multiple winner, Bear Wells. A trip to Norway the following month proved lucrative. Noosa Prince lined up for Thon Hotel Oslofjord Sølvdivisjon, a hotly contested race over 1600 metres on turf. Horses that perform well with give underfoot on turf often take to the dirt, and the soft ground on the day probably suited Noosa Prince. His best previous form had come on dirt though he looked every bit as good on the lawn, and ran out a solid winner, beating Pirlo by 2 lengths, with We Got the Boss third home.
That Noosa Prince is efficient over different surfaces and courses was demonstrated once more when he captured a Guldhandicap over 1750 metres over a turf course described as good to firm at Bro Park in August last year. He was a comfortable 5-length winner, giving his runner-up Manassas no chance. Grimeford Lane was third and the Wido Neuroth trained visitor Delacroix filled fourth place. Manassas was coming off a win at the same level and went on to run second at the same level next time out, giving the form quite a strong look.
Although he has not been able to make the grade into stakes company, one has to say that Noosa Prince's record is quite impressive – and his versatility is a big plus. His dam, Something Magic (a daughter of high class dirt performer Proud Citizen), raced ten times without success in England. Her best runs came over 6 and 7 furlongs. Something Magic is a daughter of Comeback Queen, who was a Listed placed mile winner and became a useful broodmare. Her half-brother Donativum won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf for top UK trainer John Gosden. GS041021
Six-time winner transferred
Annike to train Väsby Häst's Noosa Prince
11 Dec 20: Väsby Häst AB, owners of Mudjimba, General de Vega and Murcia, have sent yet another interesting horse to Annike Bye Hansen's stable; the highly rated Noosa Prince, an Irish bred son of Kodiac with six wins to his name. Formerly trained by Lars Kelp at Bro Park, this talented gelding will meet the 2021 season on handicap mark 83 - one kilogram below his career best. The peaks of his 2020 form represented strong form, including an impressive 4 1/2-length win over 1750 metres / turf at Bro Park. That race was run on good to firm ground, while Noosa Prince encountered soft turf when successful over 1600 metres / turf at Øvrevoll back in 2019, when he also won twice at the same distance over dirt tracks in Sweden.