Washington Horse of the Year and 2010 Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting Noosa Beach returned to action in grand style Friday afternoon in Vancouver, B. C.
With Gallyn Mitchell riding, Noosa Beach defeated a star-studded field of older horses in the $52,420 George Royal Stakes at Hastings Racecourse. Noosa Beach finished 1-½ lengths in front of Senor Rojo while running 6 ½ furlongs in 1 minute, 16.05 seconds on the bullring.
The 6-to-5 betting favorite, Noosa Beach paid $4.60, $3.20 and $2.80. Doris
Harwood is the trainer and co-owner with husband Jeff Harwood.
Noosa Beach, third early, took the lead from Sassou midway on the backstretch, turned away Dyna Stroll on the last turn and then held off Senor Rojo in the stretch to win comfortably.
“I pointed him toward the hole and said, ‘Let’s go,’ and he took me for a ride,“ Mitchell said. “All I had to do was hang on.”
Three Wood, an 89-1 long shot finished third and Teide finished fourth.
“He puts himself where he needs to be,” Doris Harwood said. “If there’s any horses in front of him, they’re going too fast. He’s a special horse.”
Noosa Beach has won four straight races—all stakes, including the 2010 Longacres Mile—and has seven wins in his last eight starts. The 5-year-old Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose has an 11-3-2 mark in 17 starts with $398,222 in earnings. Friday’s victory was worth $31,452.
Doris Harwood said the Emerald Downs-based Noosa Beach would make his local debut in the $50,000 Governor’s handicap at 6 ½ furlongs on Sunday, May 22. Coincidentally, the 2010 Governor’s was the only race Noosa Beach lost all year, a neck decision to Assessment.
“The older horses at Emerald Downs better watch out because the big dog is coming back home,” Doris Harwood said.
The Emerald Downs handicap division debuts Sunday with a $21,000 allowance race at six furlongs, a seven-horse field that serves as a prep race for the Governor’s Handicap.
Interviewed in the winner’s circle after the George Royal, Jeff Harwood said he looks forward to a Longacres Mile title defense with his star runner.
“Once you get a taste of (The Mile), you want to do it again,” he said.
