Eye-Catching Trial Winner for No Nay Never

A pinhook winner in the sale ring earlier this year for exciting young shuttle sire No Nay Never looks like he may soon become a racetrack winner as well after scoring a stylish barrier trial win at Ashburton in New Zealand on Monday morning.

Trained by Michael and Matthew Pittman, the unnamed colt was quick to jump from an outside gate for Sam Weatherley and crossed to lead comfortably on the fence. Held together throughout, the powerful chestnut won the 600 metre heat by half a length, showing natural talent and a tractable nature. Watch the trial here.

“The colt had shown plenty of natural ability in his early work in the stable and we expected him to do what he did in his trial,” Pitman said.

“The plan for the colt is to trial again, and then hopefully run in the race first 2yo race of the season at Riccarton with the goal of qualifying him for the Karaka Million in January, which is his main short-term aim."

A $120,000 Karaka Book Two purchase from the Berkeley Stud draft for Michael Pitman, he was originally sourced in Australia from the Magic Millions Weanling Sale where he was bought by Pinhook Bloodstock for $50,000.

Pitman pays close attention to European racing and was really impressed with No Nay Never when he won at Royal Ascot as a two year old, so he was particularly keen on purchasing a first crop No Nay Never yearling and this colt quickly caught the eye.

A half-brother to smart staying type Tolemac, who was fourth in the Listed Geelong Classic, he is from Zermatt, a daughter of quality Group II winning mare Zanna from the family of Group I winner Ad Alta.

Pitman was most recently at Royal Ascot in June with his star sprinter Enzo’s Lad and saw No Nay Never colt Arizona win the Group II Coventry Stakes, so will be hoping his colt can achieve similar juvenile success this season.

The first son of Scat Daddy to go to stud, No Nay Never is back in Australia for Coolmore this spring at a fee of $44,000.

With only two crops to race in the Northern Hemisphere his statistics mark No Nay Never as an elite sire with 16 stakes-winners from 82 runners giving him 10.3% stakes-winners to runners – now that’s impressive!