WS Stallion Dominates Matamata Cup

WS stallion No Excuse Needed enjoyed a sterling result on his ‘home track’ today when he dominated the finish of the Listed Matamata Cup. His dashing grey daughter No Excuse Maggie triumphed in the 16000 metre feature ahead of his son Justanexcuse.

Trained at Hastings by John Bary, the five-year-old had to overcome an outside gate to take the thick end of the stake and she did it in fine style. “She’s as tough as teak and she’s been working up a storm,” said stable representative Mike Sanders. “JB (Bary) is in Melbourne but he will get a hell of a thrill out of this and Sam (Spratt) rode her extremely well.”

No Excuse Maggie was quickly into stride to race on the speed and she took control early in the run home. “It all went according to plan and she’s a tough filly,” Spratt said. “When the other horse came up she really kicked again. I think there’s some more nice races in her.” She may now be prepared for the Gr 3 Thompson Handicap at Trentham.

The WS graduate is out of the O’Reilly mare Maggie O’Reilly and is a half-sister to the Savabeel filly Showing Off who was a winner at her June debut. The dam is from the outstanding WS family of Gr 1 winners Glamour Puss and Vision And Power and the quality stakes winners Arenti, Escadaire, Giorgio, Glam Slam, La Rose Noir, Rare Insight, Starman and Tootsie.