Polo-playing trainer lives up to the Hype in Rockhampton Cup

By Glenn Davis

Professional polo player Aiden Nunn produced a career highlight in another sporting field when Tasmanian galloper Hype claimed the $150,000 Rockhampton Cup at Callaghan Park on Saturday.

Hype, ridden by South Australian Teagan Voorham, denied local hero Master Of Jamie his third straight Rockhampton Cup with a dominant win in the 1600-metre feature.

Nunn travels around the country competing against some of the world’s best polo players as well as training a handful of thoroughbreds at Longford in the northern midlands of Tasmania.

Nunn has been a regular visitor to South East Queensland for the winter polo circuit over the past few years and brings with him a small team of thoroughbreds for the Queensland Racing Carnival each year.

This winter he brought Hype and stablemate Lusiana who tragically broke down with a tendon injury after her unplaced run at Doomben last month.

Hype did his early racing in Ireland before he was bought by Lloyd Williams and sent to Australia to be trained by Robert Hickmott in Victoria.

However, after two failures he found his way into Newcastle trainer Kris Lees' Gold Coast stables where he won on debut for the Novacastrian at Doomben in April of 2023.

Nunn later bought him for $38,000 at an online auction and struck immediate success when the gelding won at Doomben in June 2023, when the Tasmanian was on another of his trips to Queensland for polo.

“I play polo and go to Queensland every year as it’s the only state that plays polo in the winter,” Nunn said.

Nunn is keen to make the Australian polo team but has only represented his country once.

“I’ve been in the Australian squad a couple of times, but I haven’t made the full team yet,” he said.

“But I did play for Australia at the Easter Show in Sydney.

“I reckon a few younger guys are going to stop me, but I’m still hopeful I can make the team one day.”

Nunn has been training since 2010 and rates his Rockhampton Cup win up with his best.

“Prize money wise, it’s the biggest win of my career and it’s probably a bit better the Devonport Cup I won with Brilliant Jet a few years ago,” he said.

Nunn will let the dust settle and will see how Hype recovers from his Rockhampton Cup victory before deciding his immediate future.

“I want to get him out to 2000 metres and have a crack at the Launceston and Hobart Cups in the summer, but to do that, he’ll need to spell soon,” he said.

“The other option, if he pulls up okay, is to have a go at the Townsville Cup,” he said.