Noel Eales had a special horse in Calm Harbour and he defeated the very best in NZ

Calm Harbour was a bay gelding foaled in 1988 by Spectacular Love out of Sooth (Three Legs). She was breed and owned by Peter Thorburn and trained by Noel Eales at Awapuni. Eales was always the one to adopt a patient policy with his horses. He did not race horses extensively as two-year-olds and it was not unusual for him to produce a horse to win first-up from a long break with injury. Among his best wins were the 1986 Caulfield Cup with (Mr) Lomondy, the 1997 Wellington Cup with Ed and 1993 Mackinnon Stakes in Melbourne with The Phantom.

Calm Harbour won her first 3yo maiden race on debut at Manawatu over 1200m on the 5th March 1992 by five and a half lengths. In her 2nd start over 1400m in a WFA race the colt dealt to another field by three lengths. She then dropped back to 1200m to run 2nd but stayed at Hastings and won convincingly over 1400m, again with a classy display. In November Calm Harbour took on her biggest challenge in the Listed Wellington Breeders Levin Stakes (1400m) at Otaki, streaking away to smash a good field by 7L. With Lance O’Sullivan aboard the horse then took on the prestigious Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham in January 1993. Calm Harbour eased to the front, then released the brakes 300m out to beat Romanee Conti by two and three-quarter lengths.

In late February the son of Spectacular Love won the Gr.1 Terrace Regency (1400m) at Otaki, disputing the early pace, but proving too game in beating Javelin by a short head. Next up in March, Calm Harbour once again was too smart in winning the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham, and followed that up with a further win in the Gr.3 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m), beating Newbury Star and Val D'Arno. Status finally got the better of Calm Harbour when pushing her into 2nd in an Open handicap at Wanganui on a soft track. Calm Harbour has achieved a remarkable feat by securing seven consecutive victories on the NZ racing circuit. This exceptional streak is a testament to the horse's exceptional talent and the expertise of his handlers.

However, this was merely a precursor, as the gelding subsequently rebounded to secure victory in the esteemed Gr.3 Livermol Classic (1400m) held in September at Hastings. The two horse she beat that day were none other then the mighty Veandercross and future Cox Plate winner, Solvit. Her class was now undeniable and this was further enhanced when winning the Gr.2 Kelt Capital Stakes (2000m), once again rolling Solvit and the legendary, Castletown. The world was now her oyster and after a break Calm Harbour returned fresh in the spring to win the 1200m Holding Sprint at Hastings. She was then beaten at Wanganui on a soft track, outfinished by the legendary Rough Habit in the Gr.3 Central Stakes (1600m). In December 1994 Calm Harbour won the Listed WFA Ford Challenge Stakes (1400m), drawing away in the straight to hold out Solvit. In the Gr.1 Waikato Draught Sprint (1400m) he could only manage 3rd to the impressive young Snap and a 4th to Allegro in another Gr.1 Captain Cook, winding up late wide out but just missing. Calm Harbour had won 12 of his first 16 starts and competed against some of the best Open grade handicappers in New Zealand.

The connections then crossed the Tasman and bought the mare to Randwick for the 1995 Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m). The soft track may have tripped her up as Grant Cooksley was unable to improve Calm Harbour and she wound up finishing a disappointing 18th out of 20 starters. Another attempt was made in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), but sadly she was pulled up. The horse did not perform well on return to New Zealand but he did win the 1400m Listed Ford Challenge Stakes for the 2nd time, beating Avedon. Disappointing results throughout 1997 followed before the mare won the Classic Hits Sprint (1400m) at Hastings, roaring home in fine style to recapture some of that old magic. That Hawkes Bay run in January 1998 turned out to be his last and he was then retired. At the time of his esteemed trainers death in 2004, Noel Eales was 5th all time on the NZ Trainers list with 1352 winners.

RACE RECORD - 35: 16-4-1

EARNINGS - $376,685

Wellington Breeders Levin Stakes

Thorndon Mile

Terrace Regency

Captain Cook Stakes

Awapuni Gold Cup

Livermol Classic

Kelt Capital Stakes

Waikato Draught Sprint