No Excuse Needed’s Pedigree Primed for Smart Update

10 August 2011

Waikato’s G1 sire No Excuse Needed’s pedigree could well be in store for some sweet updates this season, should his US 3YO half-brother Higher Court (Sharmardal) continue to play his part.

The smart Darley bred and raced colt created a big impression on debut at Keenland in April, winning by some 6 six lengths.

At start two, he defeated all bar the record breaker Gantry at Belmont and on Saturday, he added another tick to his three start resume with a smart front running effort that left the nearest of his Saratoga rivals 2 ¾ lengths in his wake.

Higher Court’s 1100m turf outing time of 1:01.21 provided plenty of encouragement for trainer Thomas Albertrani.

“He turned up again with another super performance,” Albertrani told www.horseracing.com.

“I think he got a 96 Beyer (Speed Figure). I haven’t made any decisions, and I’d be curious to try him on the dirt.”

Albertrani said he would be patient with Higher Court ’s development, probably looking for an overnight turf sprint stakes later.

“He looks like he’s a very talented horse,” Albertrani said.

Prior to taking up stud duties, No Excuse Needed was a top class racehorse who followed 2YO G3 success with wins at 3 & 4 in the now G1 Royal Ascot Queen Anne Stakes & G2 Goodwood Celebration Mile and was twice G1 placed.

Hutchings confirmed for NZB Kiwi on Sought After

Australian-based, Kiwi-born jockey Rory Hutchings will ride Waikato Stud’s Sought After (Tivaci ex Popular), trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, in the southern hemisphere’s richest race at Ellerslie on 8 March. A last-start winner, Sought After is a Matamata nursery product with a pedigree tied to Sacred Falls.

20 January 2025

Super Seth 3YO strikes again in Hong Kong

Patch Of Cosmo (ex Thee) continues to showcase Super Seth’s potential in Hong Kong. Bred and sold by Waikato Stud, the three-year-old has claimed three victories under trainer Manfred Man, including a recent 1400m Class 3 win at Sha Tin. His pedigree traces back to stakes-winning Savabeel mare Thee.