Undefeated last season at two, Te Akau Racing’s exciting three year-old Need I Say More picked up where he left off last season, the powerhouse chestnut son of No Nay Never (USA) scoring a dominant win at Te Rapa on Saturday in the Group III Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m).
The Jamie Richards-trained galloper had scored twice from just the two starts as a two-year-old which included a victory over his highly-rated stablemate Cool Aza Beel in the Group III Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m) at his last start back in February.
First up on Saturday, Need I Say More was sent straight to the front by rider Craig Grylls to control the tempo of the race throughout and had his rivals struggling to make up ground on him as he shot clear rounding the home bend.
Grylls rated his charge perfectly as he cruised clear to win by two lengths.
“It was a really good win by a promising sort of horse,” Richards said.
“He’s a little bit hard to get a line on at home, but his work has improved and he’s obviously a horse that saves his best for race day. There’s no doubt about that.
“He’d had a good, strong build up. A couple of nice trials, done everything well, and kicked on with a good job today to remain unbeaten which is never easy to do.
“There is further improvement to come. He’s not there in the coat just yet, so we’ll potter around with him now.
“I don’t think we’ll rush, probably three or four weeks until we find another suitable race.”
A $130,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for David Ellis from the Kilgravin Lodge draft, Need I Say More was a successful pinhook having been sourced from the Burnewang North draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $65,000.
Bred in Victoria at Burnewang North, he is the first foal of winning Fastnet Rock mare Bo Bardi, a daughter of imported US stakes-winner Our Golden Dream (USA), who is by Medaglia D’Oro.
A Dissident filly from Bo Bardi was sold at Inglis Premier this year for $60,000 and she has foaled this spring producing a filly by Impending.
The first son of Scat Daddy to retire to stud, No Nay Never shuttled to Coolmore Australia for four seasons and his oldest Southern Hemisphere bred progeny are three year-olds.
He stood at Coolmore Ireland this year for 175,000 euros and his last Australian foals are arriving this spring.
The only Scat Daddy son on the Coolmore Australia roster this spring is his undefeated US Triple Crown winner Justify.
