Need I Say More Strikes Again in Guineas

$130,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase Need I Say More (No Nay Never) boasts a black-type trophy collection that no other New Zealand three-year-old this season can match, and he carried on his winning way in Saturday’s $100,000 Group Two Fusion Electrical Wellington Guineas (1400m).

The Trentham feature was his fifth stakes win of the season, following on from the Group Three Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), Group Two Sarten Memorial (1400m), Group Three Almanzor Trophy (1200m) and this month’s Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1300m). He also won last season’s Group Three Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m).

The chestnut winning machine faced a tough task on Saturday from a wide draw, but jockey Johnathan Parkes sent him forward to sit on the outside of the front-running filly Hold the Press (Press Statement).

Parkes went for the accelerator coming around the home turn, and Need I Say More charged clear. His powerful burst carried him well out of reach of the chasing pack, sailing to victory with a comfortable margin of a length and a half up his sleeve.

“It was a bit tricky early in the race – drawn 11, and they made him work a bit to get across,” Parkes said. “But once he was able to get across, the pace slackened off as we turned into the bend, which was good.

“I knew I had a handful of horse coming into the straight, and he’s really found the line well. He’s a horse that just wants to win. He’s a super horse, and he has a very bright future ahead of him.”

Need I Say More has now had nine starts for seven wins, earning $283,780 in stakes for the Te Akau Never Say Die Syndicate – more than double what Te Akau principal David Ellis paid for him at Karaka.

“He had to do a lot of work today, but he’s a winner, no doubt about that,” trainer Jamie Richards said. “Parkesy gets on well with him, and I can’t fault the horse at all. He’s going really well.

“He was a little bit light and immature when he made the trip down to Christchurch in the spring, but with a good break at Te Akau Stud and a heap of feed, he’s come back and had a great late summer and autumn for a really good group of owners.

“I don’t think he needs to do a lot more this season. The horse probably deserves a nice break, and then we’ll get him ready for next year.”

Strong-finishing Guineas second placegetter Bonham (NZ) (Per Incanto) is also a Karaka graduate, bought for $160,000 from Little Avondale Stud’s Book 1 draft by owner Gary Harding. The winner of the Group One Levin Classic (1600m) in January, Bonham has had six starts for four wins, one placing and $185,500 in stakes.

Vendor	Kilgravin Lodge
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)
Breeding	No Nay Never – Bo Bardi
Sale	Lot 606, Karaka 2019 Book 1, $130,000
Bred by	Burnewang North Pastoral