No Tricks gets a deserved reward with Riccarton victory

23 April 2015

North Island three-year-old filly No Tricks gained a deserved reward for a string of consistent runs when she turned the tables on her conqueror from the previous week to capture the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton last Saturday.

Narrowly beaten by race rival Consensus over 1600 metres on the same track a week ago, No Tricks reversed the placings on this occasion as she forged clear in the closing stages of the contest after enjoying a perfect run in transit throughout the race.

Trainer Jason Bridgman was delighted with the win after the filly had put together a string of minor placings throughout her summer campaign.

“She deserved that win as she has been going some top races without managing to get a victory,” noted Bridgman.

“She had done well during the week and we went into the race with confidence but it was her first time over a middle distance so there was a little doubt there because of that factor although her breeding suggested she would cope with it.

“She has come a long way in this preparation as she was inclined to over-race quite fiercely in her early runs but now she seems to want to settle a lot better and that was a big help to her on Saturday.”

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 …