No Excuse Needed for a Dozen

10 October 2011

Waikato Stud sire No Excuse Needed notched a dozen Stakes Winners on Saturday.

The battle for the 12th spot was valiantly fought out in the Listed Matamata Cup by No Excuse Maggie and Justanexcuse, with honours ultimately lying with the former by a short neck at the post.

Raced by the Full Of Excuses Syndicate, No Excuse Maggie has returned four wins and four placings from her 13 career outings for trainer John Bary, ensuring her connections a healthy return of NZ$77,525.

A top class racehorse himself, No Excuse Needed followed 2YO success with wins at 3 & 4 in the now Gr.1 Royal Ascot Queen Anne Stakes and in the Gr.2 Goodwood Celebration Mile.

Renowned for his ability to tidy up a mare’s conformational faults, No Excuse Needed has celebrated his time at stud with offspring such as the triple Gr.1 winner Daffodil, and with the inaugural Karaka Million hero Vincent Mangano.

Other black-type stars have included: No Excuse Maggie, Take The Rap, Grand Dancer, Snow Excuse, Champagne Needed, Masquerade, Lesley Brook, Mercury Mistress, Takeanotherchance and Miss Millbrook.

Interestingly, of these 12 stakes winners, there is a perfect 6 apiece split for his colts and fillies.

Standing for $8000 plus GST, No Excuse Needed is a son of Mr Prospector’s champion son Machiavellian – the noted grandsire of champion gallopers Zenyatta, Street Sense, Shocking and Whobegotyou.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It is not the easiest role, that of Chairman of our Thoroughbred Racing Board. Like all chairmanships, one’s mind is rarely not occupied with the responsibility. To our Chairman, I say thanks. A lifetime in the industry, Chairman of our largest club, it is difficult to identify someone more suited to the role.

14 May 2026

Sav’s girl Chispa targeting the Gr.1 Oaks

Savabeel filly Chispa enhanced her Queensland Oaks credentials with a dominant Randwick victory for Chris Waller and James McDonald, with the Pencarrow Stud-bred and raced filly surging clear over 1800 metres in impressive fashion.