Gr 1 Goal for Belle Vida

16 September 2011

No Excuse Needed’s highly-regarded daughter Belle Vida is on a mission to avenge a Gr 1 defeat suffered by her mother during her racing days.

The Matamata filly has been set for the New Zealand 1000 Guineas, a Riccarton classic that her dam Kainui Belle finished runner-up behind Taatletail in 2003.

“That’s what we’re aiming for so we’ll be heading that way and fill in the gaps between,” said Wayne Hillis who prepares the filly with his wife Vanessa.

They also guided the career of Kainui Belle who won five races including the Wellington Guineas and Eight Carat Classic at Gr 2 level, the Gr 3 Eulogy Stakes and the Listed Matamata Cup. She also placed behind King’s Chapel in the NZ 2000 Guineas.

Belle Vida moved a step closer toward her spring goal when she showed plenty of heart to post her maiden success at Te Rapa today at her second raceday appearance. She made the running under apprentice Alysha Collett and fought on determinedly in the straight to deny the favoured Zabeel filly Zurella a debut victory.

“She’s always looked like she’s needed more ground and over the 1200 metres the other day (at Te Awamutu) she was struggling all the way,” Hillis said. The result was a satisfying one for the stable as Hinuera Lodge was the sponsor of the 1400 metre event.

Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding

Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.

Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.

9 July 2026

WS graduate Honour Roll out to add stakes success at Otaki

Waikato Stud will be cheering on one of its promising graduates on Friday when Honour Roll contests the Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. The WS-bred son of the late Champion sire …