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).

Ready to Run wrap up for 2025

Buyers decended on Karaka for the 2025 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale last Wednesday, 12 and Thursday, 13 November in search of their next Feroce (Super Seth), Force Of Nature (Savabeel), etc., where the progeny of Savabeel, Super Seth, Ardrossan, Ocean Park and Noverre were well sought-after – we took a deep dive into the results.

21 November 2025

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Mary and I attended the races at Pukekohe ten days ago. I enjoy Pukekohe; I like being able to sit where you view the track on a slight angle as the horses approach the winning post. Of course, I enjoyed it even more when both Smart Love and Magice won their respective events.