No Excuses Needed For Smart Filly

21 July 2012

A No Excuse Needed filly from a well-performed family confirmed a bright future with a strong winning performance at New Plymouth today. Nasrina went back to back when she led all of the way to claim a $20,000 special conditions event for Cambridge trainers Tony Pike and Mark Donoghue.

The three-year-old had broken her maiden at Pukekohe at her previous appearance, and fourth lifetime start, and had no trouble stepping to another level. “She’s not a big filly, but she’s always showed plenty of heart and she never gives up,” stable representative Wayne Pike said.

That was evident this afternoon when she stayed on strongly under pressure in the straight for rider Sam Collett. “She’s really tough and has come a long way in a short time,” she said. “She worked a bit to cross them, but then settled beautifully in front and she’ll go further.”

Nasrina is out of the King Delamere mare Delamarda, who is a half-sister to the former quality gallopers Anderil and Impasada. The former won a Telegraph Handicap, while Impasada won both the Royal and Desert Gold Stakes.

Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle

A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.

9 July 2026

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.