Double Delight At Waipukurau

26 March 2012

WS was represented by a running double at Waipukurau on Friday with Aldebaran Star and Tacticall presented at the top of their games. The former is a half-brother by No Excuse Needed to the stakes-winner Tootsie (Pins) and had been around the mark in four previous starts this year.

Originally a $14,000 weanling pruchase at Karaka in 2008, Aldebaran Star sat outside the leader to the turn and kicked too strongly for his rivals in the straight to post his third career victory. “He bounced out well and put himself on the speed and had a lot to give on the turn,” rider Joanthan Parkes said. Thwe four-year-old is trained at Awapuni by part-owner Trina Marshall.

Tacticall was bred by WS with Stephen Luey, who now races the three-year-old, and she opened her account at her fifth start with a clear-cut win over 1200 metres. By Scaredee Cat, Tacticall is trained by Lisa Latta who has also prepared her half-brother Justanexcuse (No Excuse Needed) to win nine races, including this season’s Gr 3 Challenge Stakes.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

The two of you will be aware of my ongoing concern as to the future of our sport. You could argue I have a vested interest; well, I did have, but my interest now is to give the future generations the opportunity my generation had. Now I can tell you, hand on heart, there were many financial thin times. 1975 was my fledgling start with five mares on 130 acres that occasionally flooded with the well-bred, non-race-winning Super Gray.

12 August 2026

Classy Debut Victory For Major Beel’s Brother Savagram

From a pedigree known all too well by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, 3yo Savabeel colt Savagram (NZ) kicked off his race career in the best possible way, highlighting himself as a potential black-type performer.