No Excuses Needed Plays Starring Role

8 October 2012

No Excuse Needed made his present felt on premier day at Hastings when his strapping son Aldebaran Star ran the lower grade sprinters into the ground. The WS graduate was too slick for his Rating 85 opposition to post the fifth win of his career.

Trained by her part-owner Trina Riddell at Awapuni, the chestnut was ridden by her husband Jonathan. “He’s a horse that gets up on speed and keeps rolling,” he said. “He was humming at the 600 so I was happy to put the pressure on and they couldn’t catch me.”

A half-brother to the stakes winner Tootsie (Pins), Aldebaran Star was too slick for the former Hong Kong galloper Super Boy and No Excuse Needed also produced the third placegetter Taurus. He is from the family of the Gr 1 winners Guiseppina (Telegraph Handicap) and The Pooka (NZ 2000 Guineas).

Back-to-back wins for Sav mare Precinct

Savabeel’s daughter Precinct goes back-to-back at Hawkesbury on Thursday in the WS colours for owners Mark Chittick and Kris Shailer, trained by Ciaron Maher.

10 September 2025

Sanctified extends Super Seth’s winning run

Super Seth, crowned New Zealand’s Champion Second Season Sire for 2024/25, added another highlight when Sanctified broke through at Warwick Farm, becoming his 53rd individual winner and further cementing the Caulfield Guineas hero’s remarkable early stud record.