Bold Performance from Snow Excuse

The final two-year-old stakes race of the 2010/11 season, the Listed Brancott Estate Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki, has seen Snow Excuse put in a big performance to win his first black-type race.

Trained by Ralph Manning, Snow Excuse (NZ) (No Excuse Needed x Kirkberg) came from behind the pace in Saturday's juvenile feature, with jockey Michael Coleman taking the two-year-old wide as he wound up in the straight.

In what came as a thrilling finish to the race, Snow Excuse found himself stride for stride with the last start Listed Castletown Stakes winner and New Zealand Bloodstock graduate Testa Secret. But the son of No Excuse Needed showed real determination in the final stages, taking the Ryder Stakes by a nose with NZB graduates providing the race quinella.

The win was the second for the promising now three-year-old, the first coming on his debut at Ellerslie in late April.  The race also saw him turn the table on Testa Secret, the pair met in the Listed Castletown Stakes where Snow Excuse was three-quarters-of-a-length away third.

In what has turned out to be a brilliant purchase, Snow Excuse's trainer Ralph Manning bought the gelding at the 2009 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale from Waikato Stud for just $4,500.

Snow Excuse was bred by Waikato Stud and is the eleventh stakes winner for his sire No Excuse Needed. His race record now stands at four starts for two wins, a second and a third, and almost $40,000 in stakes.

New Zealand Bloodstock's Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale will commence at 1pm this Friday at the Karaka Sales Complex. For Sale enquiries or to view the catalogue online, please visit www.nzb.co.nz.