Snow Excuse makes up for lost time

10 July 2013

Snow Excuse returned to the winners’ list with a vengeance at Pukekohe this afternoon with a runaway victory over 1200 metres. The Ralph Manning-trained four-year-old gave his Rating 75 rivals an emphatic five and three-quarter length drubbing under the country’s top apprentice Rory Hutchings.

The son of No Excuse Needed had been a dual winner as a two-year-old, but his defeat of Testa Secret in the Listed Ryder Stakes nearly two years ago was his last taste of success. “He’s a big horse and improved with each run after a long time off,” he said. “He’s got major joint issues so we gave him a long break to decide if we would even run him again.”

Raced by Manning with his parents Bob and Kathleen and Ivan Julian, Snow Excuse was a $4500 weanling buy from WS’s 2009 draft to Karaka. He is a half-brother to four winners with their dam the former smart Australian juvenile and Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes winner Kirkberg.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Mary and I had a great weekend. As usual, Taupo Race Club put on a couple of days that encourage you to go to the races. The lead-in to the day was an hour or so at the iconic Yacht Club Bar – an easy place to be, perched above the lake: wine, beer and pizzas provided. A chance to meet and greet, bearing in mind the visitors that make the effort to attend.

19 August 2026

Noverre’s son Spill It sold to Chris Waller

Christchurch trainer Anna Furlong will be keeping a keen eye on the progress of promising three-year-old Spill It after the talented youngster was sold to Australia following his impressive Riccarton victory earlier this month.