From Argentinian polo ponies to the Rockhampton Cup

Tasmanian Aiden Nunn lives a fascinating life travelling with polo ponies and racehorses and is this week is bound for the central Queensland beef capital with Hype for the Rockhampton Cup.

Aiden Nunn has just sold a couple of polo ponies to Argentina and his well-travelled racehorse Hype is about to hit the road bound for the beef capital of Rockhampton.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Nunn, a Tasmanian who travels around the country to play professional polo and race a couple of racehorses along the way.

Following the polo circuit, Nunn bases himself in southeast Queensland in the winter months and he has given former Lloyd Williams-owned galloper Hype three runs during the winter carnival.

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Aiden Nunn. Picture: TAS RACING

Six-year-old gelding Hype has seen more things than most people.

He started his racing career in Ireland, coming to Australia and having starts in Sydney, Launceston, Devonport and Ipswich.

Despite his Irish heritage, Hype doesn’t think much of wet weather or rain-affected racing surfaces.

So he’s almost certainly bound for Saturday’s $150,000 Rockhampton Cup (1600m) with his trip to the central Queensland beef capital keeping him away from wet tracks in the southeast.

Racehorse Hype, trained by professional polo player Aiden Nunn, is heading to the Rockhampton Cup. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

“I come up to Queensland for the winter, chasing the polo season, and I have sold a couple of (polo) horses overseas and two of them have ended up going to Argentina,” Nunn said.

“The last couple of seasons I have only had a couple of racehorses in work.

“I’ve never been to Rockhampton before and neither has Hype.

“This horse has been everywhere but he travels as solid as a rock.

“He just loves getting on the float and going for a drive.”

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Saturday’s Rockhampton Cup is the highlight of the local carnival which also includes the $100,000 Rockhampton Newmarket (1300m) on Friday’s card.

Hype has not managed a win this year, with his last victory coming in a race over 1650m on the synthetic track at Devonport just before Christmas last year.

But Nunn said the well-travelled galloper could make his mark on the Rockhampton Cup.

It's an eighth @ladbrokescomau Devonport Cup for @craig_newitt and the sensational run for @GTS_racing continues with the win of Ashy Boy.

Hype runs second and Swoop Dog was huge in third. pic.twitter.com/qCT8Bgn69q

— Tasracing Australia (@TasracingAus) January 10, 2024

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“Before his last start at Doomben, he had missed a gallop beforehand and probably just needed the run,” Nunn said.

“He looked like the winner halfway down the straight but he just peaked on his run.

“It was a good hard gallop for him, so it has set him up for this.

“I had been ready to step him up to the 1800(m) but they will probably go flat out in the Rockhampton Cup and that will suit him.”

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In all-in betting on the Rockhampton Cup on Ladbrokes, Hype is a $17 chance in a market which has country star Namazu as the $5 equal favourite.

Originally published as From Argentinian polo ponies to the Rockhampton Cup