Derby Day Win No.3 - Need I Say More

Winning as a favourite should, Need I Say More (3 g No Nay Never - Bo Bardi, by Fastnet Rock) made it six from eight after a well timed finish in the $67,000 Mufhasa Fasttrack Stakes (Listed, 1300m) on Derby Day at Ellerslie.

Having produced a stunning victory in the Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) when resuming on Karaka Million night (23 Jan.) at Ellerslie, Need I Say More sat third while expected pacemaker Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) sprang along at a genuine clip. But rider Opie Bosson always appeared confident and the horse was equal to the task.

Scoring comfortably by three-quarters of a length over Babylon Berlin, the deficit was narrowing as stable-mate Cornflower Blue (Savabeel), fresh-up from finishing third to teammate Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), finished strongly into third.

Returning $2.30 & $1.60, Need I Say More ran the 1300 metres in 1:17.8 on Slow8 footing.

Trainer Jamie Richards had prepared Star of Bombay (Atlante) to win the corresponding race a year ago and took his tally to 32 stakes wins (NZ & Aust.) for the season, amidst 126 in total, while Need I Say More recorded his fifth stakes victory.

“He's a quality horse that sneaks under the radar at home because he doesn't put a lot of enthusiasm into his work or his trials,” said Richards, after Need I Say More had finished last in a preparatory trial, between wins, on 25 February at Pukekohe.

“He turns up on race day and was given a lovely ride by Opie (Bosson). He didn't panic when Sam (Collett, aboard Babylon Berlin) put a break on them, but ground away well the last bit and he's in good shape.

“I was pretty happy with Opie's body language when he was cruising up and the horse is putting together a good record.

“He's one that Dave (Ellis) identified at the yearling sales and was keen to get him, but (passed in) had to wait until after the sale and he couldn't sleep until he got him. It's all worked out really well and he's a quality horse: 1200, 1300, 1400 metres.”

Richards said that both Need I Say More and Cornflower Blue could now join stable-mates Brando (Savabeel) and Kahma Lass in a four-pronged approach to the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) on NZ Oaks Day (20 March) at Trentham.

Owned by the Te Akau Never Say Die Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis), Need I Say More was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $130,000, from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge, at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

“As the story goes, I kept thinking about this horse after he was passed in at Karaka, and I'm so pleased that I rang Eion Kemp, who pin-hooked him from the Gold Coast Weanling Sale, and bought him,” Ellis said. “He is a fantastic specimen, continues to develop physically, and although he might be a bit blasé in some respects he certainly switches on and knows how to be a good racehorse.”

By an unbeaten two-year-old and a sire making waves in Europe, No Nay Never is by Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) who sired 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, while his dam, Bo Bardi, is by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill) and won over 1400 metres in Australia.

Need I Say More was strapped by Libby Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz