3 minute read

Hawke's Bay trainer John Bary is enjoying a very successful spring with No Excuse Maggie leading home a quinella for her sire and a trifecta for NZ Bloodstock graduates in the Listed Matamata Cup.

A five-year-old daughter of No Excuse Needed, No Excuse Maggie (ex Maggie O'Reilly) held off Justanexcuse, also by No Excuse Needed, who flew home late, to win by a quarter-of-a-length.

Bred by Waikato Stud, No Excuse Maggie is the 12th stakes winner for No Excuse Needed.

She was also the 14th stakes winner for her dam sire O'Reilly, who is also the broodmare sire of G1 winners Daffodil and The Pooka.

A winner of four of her 13 race day starts, No Excuse Maggie is raced by the Full of Excuses Syndicate and was a bargain purchase by Mr & Mrs HG Jones from Waikato Stud for only $2500 at the 2007 Karaka Weanling Sale.

She has now won over $77,000.

* THE Kevin Hughes trained Crystal Duke made the Listed Christchurch Casino Spring Classic his own on Saturday when he destroyed the field at Riccarton.

Ridden by Danielle Johnson, Crystal Duke (NZ) (Bachelor Duke x Starfire Glow) showed that the rain which hit Riccarton was of little concern as he made a four-and-a-quarter-length statement to his rivals heading for the New Zealand Cup November 12.

His first win at black-type level, the five-year-old came into the race with just one start under his belt at Riccarton where he ran a good fresh up fourth to Zabene (Zabeel) over 1800 metres.

Crystal Duke is the fifth stakes winner by Bachelor Duke - who stands at the Oaks Stud - with Saturday's victory his seventh in 28 starts.

Bred by Bill Borrie, Crystal Duke was a $20,000 purchase by Kevin & Pam Hughes from Richfield Thoroughbred Farm at the 2008 Karaka Select Sale. He has now won over $77,000 in stakes.