Need I Say More Takes Grp 3 Northern Breeders

Mr. one-hundred percent - three from three - Need I Say More (3 g No Nay Never - Bo Bardi, by Fastnet Rock) had no trouble disposing of his rivals in the $70,000 WRC Northland Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Saturday at Te Rapa.

Providing Te Akau with their eighth Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) in February at Matamata, to record his second impressive win from two starts, Need I Say More was never out of second gear when winning a trial in July at Te Rapa, and emulated with a soft all-the-way win.

With a buffer in favouritism ($3.40 & $1.60), Need I Say More made play in front for jockey Craig Grylls, and after travelling sweetly he drew clear inside the 300m to score impressively again by two and three quarter lengths. Running the 1200 metres in 1:10.8 on footing upgraded to Dead6. 

It was a textbook victory and he certainly looks a good horse. Even before racing, Need I Say More had beaten subsequent Woburn Farm 2YO Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m) winner Bonita Aurelia (Sweynesse) at the trials.

He cut a pretty picture in his debut victory over 1100 metres in February at Matamata, before beating stable-mate and Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) by two and a half lengths in the Slipper, and only because of Covid-19 the strong young galloper was robbed of a chance to contest the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) in March at Awapuni, where he would have been strongly favoured. 

While the talent is undoubted, Need I Say More also keeps something up his sleeve as acknowledged by trainer Jamie Richards. 

“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. 

“Obviously, he is another great purchase by Dave (Ellis), who bought him after the sale, and you just never know where these good horses come from. He was one of the last ones he bought, and he's put his hand up as a top-liner. 

“Staff, Scott (Lucock) and Mette (Mosebo), at the Colt Barn have done a great job with him. And we have to be happy with how the whole team is going. The first serious three-year-old stakes' race of the season, it's good to get that win on the board.”

Fresh from winning the premiership (101 New Zealand wins), during a season where he trained 20 stakes' winners, including 11 Group 1 victories, Richards was thrilled to kick off with a Group 3 victory and his fourth win this season alongside a frustrating seven seconds. 

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.

“After the yearling sales had finished, I came home to the farm and kept thinking about this horse,” Ellis said. “He was passed in and I wondered whether I'd left a good horse behind. About a month later, I thought, bugger it, I'm going to buy him. I rang Eion Kemp who pin-hooked him from the Gold Coast Weanling Sale. He loved him too, stayed in for a share, and we got the deal done.

“We've got some terrific owners in the horse and three starts for three wins, including two black type wins, is an outstanding effort. It's great that Robyn Bregmen, my administration manager, has a share in this horse and I told her today that her husband, Derek, needs to experience winning as an owner too. 

“It was great to see Craig Grylls win another good race in the tangerine. His father, Gary, rode my first Group 1 winner (Cosmetique, 1986 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie) and his grandfather, Johnny, also rode a winner in the tangerine. 

“So, it's a big thrill but we feel really sorry that we all couldn't be there. But, we're having an early Father's Day luncheon at Raglan, with Karyn, Julia-Rose and Hamish, and enjoying celebrating the win.”

While Te Akau has won many stakes races numerous times in New Zealand, Need I Say More provided the second Northland Breeders' Stakes after Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) won in 2016.

“He was one of the best horses that Te Akau has trained,” Ellis said. “He was also an unbeaten two-year-old and he's now standing at Raheen Stud in Queensland. We've got a yearling by Heroic Valour at the farm and one of the best types of yearlings I've ever bred.”

By another unbeaten two-year-old and stallion making waves as Leading First Crop Sire in Europe, No Nay Never is by Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) who sired 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, while the dam of Need I Say More, Bo Bardi, is by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill) and won over 1400 metres in Australia. 

Need I Say More was strapped by Reece Trumper.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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