Golden Run Continues With WS Breed (April 17 2010)

Matamata trainer Lance Noble and a syndicate of long-time clients continued their winning streak with WS graduates at Rotorua yesterday. Their latest success story is the No Excuse Needed filly First Date who turned in an outstanding display to bury her maiden rivals over 1400 metres.

The lightly-tried three-year-old was making her fourth appearance and after missing the start she powered home to win with authority. She is owned by Sydney-based racing journalist Rob Burnet with his father Alan and Alan and Colleen Jackson who race recent Listed NZ Bloodstock Air Freight Stakes winner Mercury Mistress, also by No Excuse Needed. They hit the big time with the former top class mare Irlanda (O'Reilly), who numbered the Gr 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes and the Gr 3 Eulogy Stakes among her six career victories from Noble's yard.

First Date was a $40,000 yearling purchase out of WS's 2008 Select Sale draft and is a daughter of the five-time winner Stars In Her Eyes. The major Gr 1 players in the family are The Pooka (NZ 2000 Guineas) and Rubiscent (Underwood Stakes).