HB-bred mare scores her first South Island success
Former Hastings-trained Xcuses Xcuses recorded her first win in the South Island when taking out a $26,000 Rating 72 race over 1400m at Sunday’s Cromwell meeting.
It was the No Excuse Needed mare’s fifth success but her first since she prevailed in a Rating 75 race over 1200m at Awapuni in March last year.
Back then Xcuses Xcuses was prepared by Hastings trainer John Bary who bred and owned the mare in partnership with long time stable client Ivan Grieve.
The decided to lease her out to a South Island syndicate and she was transferred to the Rangiora stable of John Blackadder in March.
“We thought if we sent her down south she might be able to pick up some black type and we could then sell her as a broodmare,” Bary said this week.
Xcuses Xcuses need a firm track to show her best and finally got conditions to suit last Sunday.
Australian-born jockey Jake Bayliss settled Xcuses Xcuses in the first half dozen in the early stages and then angled her into the clear early in the home straight.
She finished the race off strongly for a convincing 23⁄ length win. 4
Xcuses Xcuses was the first foal out of the Shinko King mare Xpectacular, which won one race from the Bary stable.
The second foal was Rawhide, which has been placed twice from 10 starts, while the third foal is the one race winner Chouxperb.